VT S0019

Expands Vermont's hate crime law (13 V.S.A. § 1455) to cover crimes targeting a group of particular persons, not just individual victims

Amends the statute to apply when conduct is motivated by "another person's or a group of particular persons'" protected category membership, replacing the previous "victim's" language

Maintains existing penalty structure: up to 2 years imprisonment or $2,000 fine for underlying crimes with 1-year max penalty; up to 5 years or $10,000 fine for underlying crimes with 1-5 year penalties

Protected categories remain unchanged: race, color, religion, national origin, sex, ancestry, age, military service, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity

Effective date: July 1, 2025