Bill > SB5830

This bill amends existing Washington state law to explicitly include political affiliation as a protected characteristic in hate crime legislation. The bill expands the definition of hate crimes to cover offenses motivated by a person's political affiliation, alongside existing protected characteristics like race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation. Specifically, the legislation makes it a class C felony to assault, damage property, or threaten someone because of their perceived political views. The bill provides detailed context about the legislature's intent to protect individuals from bias-motivated crimes, recognizing that threats and attacks based on political affiliation can create reasonable fear and harm. The law clarifies that it is not a defense if the perpetrator was mistaken about the victim's political affiliation, and that any additional crimes committed during a hate crime can be separately prosecuted. Importantly, the bill emphasizes that this expansion does not create new civil rights beyond existing protections, but rather provides a clearer legal framework for prosecuting hate-motivated offenses that target individuals because of their political beliefs.

Justice

https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5830&Year=2025&Initiative=false