KY HB478

Expands Kentucky's protected categories for hate crimes to include ethnicity, mental or physical disability, gender identity or expression, and sexual orientation, in addition to existing protections for race, color, religion, and national origin

Establishes enhanced prison sentences for hate crime convictions: 1-5 additional years for Class D felonies, 5-10 years for Class C felonies, and 10-20 years for Class A or B felonies; misdemeanor sentences increase by at least half the maximum term

Prohibits defendants receiving enhanced hate crime sentences from eligibility for probation, shock probation, conditional discharge, parole, or any other form of early release

Creates a new Class A misdemeanor offense for using hate symbols to intimidate when someone intentionally displays symbols historically associated with impending violence that place another person in reasonable apprehension of physical injury

Updates mandatory law enforcement training requirements to include identification, investigation, and reporting of bias-related crimes based on the expanded list of protected characteristics