The U.S. Department of Justice most often brings terrorism-related charges, but 34 states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws that make committing acts of terrorism — and, in some cases, providing support to terrorists — state-level felonies.
Most of these laws were created in response to the 9/11 attacks. In all, 27 states passed anti-terrorism legislation in 2002.
In some states, terrorism is vaguely defined. Arkansas outlaws “terroristic acts” but does not say that such acts must be ideologically motivated, a requirement under the federal terrorism law. Maine prohibits what lawmakers term a “catastrophe” of “terroristic intent,” which can include releasing a chemical or biological toxin or causing an explosion, fire, flood, building collapse, or even an avalanche.
Since 9/11, state lawmakers have continued to be reactionary in drafting and amending anti-terrorism laws. Georgia created a law in 2017 to define “domestic terrorism” following Dylann Roof’s mass shooting at a black church in South Carolina. After Omar Mateen’s massacre at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, lawmakers amended the state’s 2002 anti-terrorism law to strengthen criminal penalties for acts of terrorism, adding a life sentence for terrorists whose violence results in death, among other changes. Kentucky and Michigan provide even harsher penalties: life in prison for anyone convicted of committing an act of terrorism.
Here’s a look at anti-terrorism laws in the 50 states and the District of Columbia:
| State | Description | Year | Statute Code |
al
Alabama |
Alabama’s law defines terrorism in terms similar to the USA Patriot Act and provides a sentencing enhancement for terrorism-related crimes. | 2002 | § 13A-10-154 |
ak
Alaska |
Alaska’s law prohibits sending and threatening to use bacteriological, biological, chemical, or radiological weapons. | 2002 | § 11.56.807 |
az
Arizona |
Arizona’s law prohibits vaguely defined acts of terrorism, providing support for terrorists, the use of weapons of mass destruction, and threats to use weapons of mass destruction. | 2002 | § 13-2308.01 |
ar
Arkansas |
Arkansas’s law outlaws so-called terroristic acts, which do not require an ideological motivation. | 2005 | § 5-13-310 |
ca
California |
California’s law prohibits the use of and threats to use weapons of mass destruction. | 2002 | § 11415 |
co
Colorado |
Colorado does not have an anti-terrorism law. | N/A | N/A |
ct
Connecticut |
Connecticut’s law prohibits building chemical, biological, and radiological weapons. It also defines various crimes of “terrorist purposes,” such as computer hacking, contaminating water or food supplies, and damaging public transit systems. | 2002 | § 53a-300-304 |
de
Delaware |
Delaware does not have an anti-terrorism law. | N/A | N/A |
dc
District of Columbia |
Washington, D.C.’s law specifies penalties for acts of terrorism involving murder, manslaughter, kidnapping, arson, and assault. | 2002 | § 22–3153 |
fl
Florida |
Florida’s law, amended following the Pulse nightclub shooting in 2016, defines terrorism in terms similar to the USA Patriot Act. It also criminalizes providing material support to terrorists. | 2002 | § 775.30-35 |
ga
Georgia |
Georgia’s law, enacted following Dylann Roof’s mass shooting at a black church in South Carolina, defines domestic terrorism as any felony intended to intimidate civilians or coerce the government. | 2017 | § 16-11-220-224 |
hi
Hawaii |
Hawaii does not have an anti-terrorism law. | N/A | N/A |
id
Idaho |
Idaho does not have an anti-terrorism law. | N/A | N/A |
il
Illinois |
Illinois’s law defines terrorism as any act intended to intimidate or coerce the civilian population. | 2002 | § 720-5 |
in
Indiana |
Indiana’s law prohibits using or transferring another person’s identifying information for use in an act of terrorism and prohibits using weapons of mass destruction. | 2002 | § 35-47-12-1 |
ia
Iowa |
Iowa’s law designates acts of terrorism and providing material support to terrorists as felonies punishable by up to 50 years in prison. | 2002 | § 708A |
ks
Kansas |
Kansas’s law defines terrorism as any felony intended to intimidate civilians or influence government. | 2010 | § 21-5421 |
ky
Kentucky |
Kentucky’s law defines terrorism as violent acts intended to intimidate civilians or influence government, and provides a penalty of life in prison. | 2018 | § 525.045 |
la
Louisiana |
Louisiana’s law defines a number of crimes, such as murder and kidnapping, as terrorism if the intent is to intimidate civilians or influence government. | 2002 | § 14:128.1 |
me
Maine |
Maine’s law prohibits a “catastrophe” of “terroristic intent,” such as an explosion, fire, flood, avalanche, building collapse, or release of chemical or biological toxins. | 2002 | § 803-A |
md
Maryland |
Maryland does not have an anti-terrorism law. | N/A | N/A |
ma
Massachusetts |
Massachusetts’s law prohibits developing, acquiring, or transporting biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons. | 2002 | 266 § 102C |
mi
Michigan |
Michigan’s voluminous law defines terrorist organizations as those designated by the U.S. State Department; provides a life sentence for terrorist acts that result in death; and prohibits providing material support to terrorists. | 2002 | § 750.543 |
mn
Minnesota |
Minnesota’s law prohibits using weapons of mass destruction. | 2002 | § 609.712 |
ms
Mississippi |
Mississippi does not have an anti-terrorism law. | N/A | |
mo
Missouri |
Missouri’s law prohibits providing material support to any designated foreign terrorist organization. | 2002 | § 576.080 |
mt
Montana |
Montana does not have an anti-terrorism law. | N/A | N/A |
ne
Nebraska |
Nebraska does not have an anti-terrorism law. | N/A | N/A |
nv
Nevada |
Nevada’s law prohibits acts of terrorism and providing material support to terrorists. | 2003 | § 202.445 |
nh
New Hampshire |
New Hampshire does not have an anti-terrorism law. | N/A | N/A |
nj
New Jersey |
New Jersey’s law prohibits acts of terrorism and providing material support to terrorists. | 2002 | § 2C:38-2 |
nm
New Mexico |
New Mexico does not have an anti-terrorism law. | N/A | N/A |
ny
New York |
New York’s law defines a number of crimes, such as murder and kidnapping, as terrorism if the intent is to intimidate civilians or influence government. | 2002 | § 490.00-70 |
nc
North Carolina |
North Carolina’s law prohibits using weapons of mass destruction. | 2001 | § 14-288.21-24 |
nd
North Dakota |
North Dakota does not have an anti-terrorism law. | N/A | N/A |
oh
Ohio |
Ohio’s law defines a number of crimes, such as murder and kidnapping, as terrorism if the intent is to intimidate civilians or influence government. | 2002 | § 2909.22 |
ok
Oklahoma |
Oklahoma’s law defines all acts of terrorism as felonies and prohibits chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons material. It also prohibits providing financial support to terrorists. | 2002 | § 21-1268.5 |
or
Oregon |
Oregon does not have an anti-terrorism law. | N/A | N/A |
pa
Pennsylvania |
Pennsylvania’s law defines terrorism as crimes intended to intimidate civilians or influence government. | 2002 | § 2717 |
ri
Rhode Island |
Rhode Island does not have an anti-terrorism law. | N/A | N/A |
sc
South Carolina |
South Carolina’s law prohibits using weapons of mass destruction. | 2002 | § 16-23-715 |
sd
South Dakota |
South Dakota’s law defines terrorism as any use of chemical, biological, radioactive, or explosive weapons intended to intimidate civilians or influence government. | 2002 | § 22-8-12 |
tn
Tennessee |
Tennessee’s law prohibits using weapons of mass destruction. | 2002 | § 39-13-801 |
tx
Texas |
Texas does not have an anti-terrorism law. | N/A | N/A |
ut
Utah |
Utah’s law prohibits “threats of terrorism” intended to intimidate civilians or influence government. | 2002 | § 76-5-107.3 |
vt
Vermont |
Vermont’s law, amended in 2018 following the failed prosecution of a man who was planning a school shooting, defines domestic terrorism and prohibits using weapons of mass destruction. | 2002 | § 1703 |
va
Virginia |
Virginia’s law establishes a minimum punishment of 20 years in prison for committing an act of terrorism or providing support to terrorists. | 2002 | § 18.2-46.5 |
wa
Washington |
Washington’s law defines placing a bomb with intent to commit a terrorist act as “malicious placement of an explosive.” | 1997 | § 70.74.270 |
wv
West Virginia |
West Virginia’s law establishes a minimum punishment of one year in prison for threatening to commit a terrorist act. | 2001 | § 61-6-24 |
wi
Wisconsin |
Wisconsin does not have an anti-terrorism law. | N/A | N/A |
wy
Wyoming |
Wyoming does not have an anti-terrorism law. | N/A | N/A |
Sources: National Conference of State Legislatures, Justia
IT’S EVEN WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT.
What we’re seeing right now from Donald Trump is a full-on authoritarian takeover of the U.S. government.
This is not hyperbole.
Court orders are being ignored. MAGA loyalists have been put in charge of the military and federal law enforcement agencies. The Department of Government Efficiency has stripped Congress of its power of the purse. News outlets that challenge Trump have been banished or put under investigation.
Yet far too many are still covering Trump’s assault on democracy like politics as usual, with flattering headlines describing Trump as “unconventional,” “testing the boundaries,” and “aggressively flexing power.”
The Intercept has long covered authoritarian governments, billionaire oligarchs, and backsliding democracies around the world. We understand the challenge we face in Trump and the vital importance of press freedom in defending democracy.
We’re independent of corporate interests. Will you help us?
IT’S BEEN A DEVASTATING year for journalism — the worst in modern U.S. history.
We have a president with utter contempt for truth aggressively using the government’s full powers to dismantle the free press. Corporate news outlets have cowered, becoming accessories in Trump’s project to create a post-truth America. Right-wing billionaires have pounced, buying up media organizations and rebuilding the information environment to their liking.
In this most perilous moment for democracy, The Intercept is fighting back. But to do so effectively, we need to grow.
That’s where you come in. Will you help us expand our reporting capacity in time to hit the ground running in 2026?
We’re independent of corporate interests. Will you help us?
I’M BEN MUESSIG, The Intercept’s editor-in-chief. It’s been a devastating year for journalism — the worst in modern U.S. history.
We have a president with utter contempt for truth aggressively using the government’s full powers to dismantle the free press. Corporate news outlets have cowered, becoming accessories in Trump’s project to create a post-truth America. Right-wing billionaires have pounced, buying up media organizations and rebuilding the information environment to their liking.
In this most perilous moment for democracy, The Intercept is fighting back. But to do so effectively, we need to grow.
That’s where you come in. Will you help us expand our reporting capacity in time to hit the ground running in 2026?
We’re independent of corporate interests. Will you help us?
Contact the author:
Related
Latest Stories
ChatGPT Confessed to a Crime It Couldn’t Possibly Have Committed
A renown criminologist’s experiment with ChatGPT demonstrates the destructive power of police to elicit false confessions.
Chilling Dissent
The Short and Ridiculous Trial of a Protester Arrested in an Inflatable Penis Costume
An Alabama cop who confronted the No Kings protester claimed she posed a risk to public safety. The judge was unconvinced.
Targeting Iran
Pentagon Erases Wounded U.S. Troops From Iran War Casualty List: “Definition of a Cover-up”
The U.S. government altered its tally of American casualties — inexplicably scrubbing 15 wounded-in-action troops from the count.