HB 4476 Summary

• Creates new crime of "institutional desecration" for maliciously destroying, damaging, defacing, or vandalizing religious buildings, cemeteries, schools, libraries, museums, businesses, charitable establishments, adjacent grounds, digital assets, or property within these institutions based on actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, ethnicity, or national origin.

• Establishes tiered felony penalties: up to 10 years imprisonment and/or up to $15,000 fine for destruction/injury of $20,000 or more; up to 5 years imprisonment and/or up to $10,000 fine for $1,000-$20,000 in damage.

• Creates misdemeanor penalties for lesser damage amounts: up to 1 year imprisonment and/or up to $2,000 fine for $200-$999 damage; up to 93 days imprisonment and/or up to $500 fine for damage under $200.

• Allows courts to impose alternative sentences including community service (with defendant consent) to enhance understanding of offense impact on victims and community; reduces felony penalties by up to 20% if alternative sentence imposed.

• Permits affected institutions to file civil lawsuits for damages equaling 3 times actual damages or $25,000 (whichever is greater), plus attorney fees and costs, regardless of criminal prosecution outcome.