S890 - Hate Crimes Prevention Act Summary

• Expands hate crime definitions to include offenses committed because of victim's actual or perceived race, ethnicity, color, religion, nationality, country of origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, or sexual orientation, upgrading Class 2-3 misdemeanors to Class 1 misdemeanors and Class A1-1 misdemeanors to Class H felonies.

• Creates civil action rights for hate crime victims and immediate family members to sue for actual damages (including emotional distress), punitive damages, attorneys' fees, and litigation costs.

• Establishes mandatory restorative justice sessions for hate crime offenders, conducted by trained mediators from local Human Relations Commissions or qualified professionals, with all costs paid by defendant.

• Requires State Bureau of Investigation to establish and maintain a hate crimes statistics database with monthly reporting from law enforcement agencies and annual reports to General Assembly; appropriates $1,890,000 in nonrecurring funds and $530,000 in recurring funds for implementation.

• Mandates criminal justice and sheriff education commissions develop and provide training to law enforcement officers on identifying, responding to, and reporting hate crimes, with annual reporting requirements beginning March 1, 2025, and creates civil liability for officers' failure to complete required training.