Proposed bill would cover harassment sent through electronic messages

The introduced text would treat listed electronic communications as ways to commit the offense. Covered communications include phone calls, social media posts, text messages, instant messages, and email. The section also describes attempts to get money or something valuable, repeated anonymous communications that disturb another person's peace, quiet, or privacy, and malicious communications meant to annoy or disrupt another person's phone service. The person must act with intent to terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy, or offend, or commit another act listed in the section. Obscene, lewd, or profane language, or a threat or statement described in the section, is initial evidence of that intent. A violation would be treated as committed where the communication began or where it was received.