MS SB2576

Amends Mississippi Code Sections 99-19-301 and 99-19-305 to expand the categories of victims protected under hate crime enhancement statutes to include "sexual orientation, gender identity, disability" in addition to existing protections based on race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, national origin, and gender.

Maintains existing hate crime enhancement provisions for crimes committed with specific intent to target law enforcement officers, firefighters, or emergency medical technicians based on their employment.

Requires courts to conduct separate sentencing proceedings where juries must find beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant knew or had reasonable grounds to know the victim was in a protected class and committed the crime because of that status.

Effective date is July 1, 2018.