MS HB1494

Amends Mississippi Code Sections 99-19-301 and 99-19-305 to expand the categories of victims whose victimization triggers enhanced hate crime penalties to include sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability.

Adds sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability to the list of protected characteristics alongside existing categories of race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, national origin, and gender.

Maintains existing protections for crimes committed against law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians based on their employment status.

Requires courts to conduct separate sentencing proceedings where juries must find beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant knew or perceived the victim's protected status and committed the offense because of that status.

Takes effect July 1, 2019.