This database provides information on all state domestic terrorism laws in the country. U.S. federal law defines domestic terrorism, but provides no penalties. Instead, the offense of domestic terrorism is state-based, and varies considerably across the country. Thirty-two states and Washington D.C. criminalize the act of domestic terrorism, while the remainder of the states do not. Most state anti-terrorism laws were enacted in the wake of the September 11 attacks, although some were enacted or amended more recently.
Many state domestic terrorism laws are written in an overbroad manner that can cover activities not typically associated with “terrorism,” including in the context of protests and advocacy, raising clear First Amendment concerns. This database provides a summary of the crime of domestic terrorism in each state that criminalizes the offense, along with links to the relevant statutes. The database also indicates if there is also a separate crime of providing support to further an act of terrorism or a terroristic threat offense.