On January 29, Associate Policy Director Sarah Sample testified before the Judicial Proceedings Committee in support of SB 311 – Government Officials’ Family Protection Act of 2025.
This bill extends existing protections for several local officials, to include their immediate family members.
National, state, and local politics have become more tense in recent years. The number of incidents and threats against local officials has steadily increased as political climates intensify. As quasi-political entities, local government officials and workforces are susceptible to some of the challenges that materialize from these shifts in political temperament. Often, as residents’ ire spreads to public officials’ homes, their family members are subject to threats and, in some instances, become direct targets of aggression.
Encouraging public service is necessary to ensure communities are safe and productive for all residents. The provisions of this bill help counterbalance how threats can deter engagement. Counties appreciate that this bill will ensure appropriate accountability and deterrence for offenders who would threaten local government officials and their families.
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