Bill > HB06872

This bill revises and consolidates Connecticut's hate crimes statutes, introducing a comprehensive set of legal provisions aimed at addressing and penalizing hate-motivated offenses. The bill significantly expands the definition of a "protected social category" to include race, color, religion, ethnicity, disability, alienage, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and age. It creates multiple new categories of hate crimes, including hate crime causing physical injury, hate crime affecting property, hate crime by threat, hate crime affecting religious property, and hate crime by false reporting. The bill establishes specific penalties for these offenses, typically ranging from misdemeanors to felonies, with mandatory minimum fines starting at $1,000 and increasing based on the severity of the offense. Additionally, the legislation enhances existing legal frameworks by broadening the definition of discriminatory practices, allowing civil actions for victims, and providing the Attorney General with expanded investigative and prosecutorial powers. The bill also introduces provisions for community service, anti-bias programs, and restitution as potential sentencing conditions. Most notably, it allows for enhanced sentencing when a crime is determined to be motivated by bias against a protected social category, potentially increasing the severity of the punishment. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and amends numerous existing sections of Connecticut's legal statutes.

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https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB06872&which_year=2025