WA HB1052

Amends Washington's hate crime statute (RCW 9A.36.080) to clarify that a hate crime offense can be committed "in whole or in part" because of the perpetrator's perception of the victim's protected characteristics, rather than requiring bias to be the sole motivating factor

Protected characteristics include race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, and mental, physical, or sensory disability

Hate crime offenses include assault, property damage or destruction, and threats that place victims in reasonable fear of harm to person or property

Defines "reasonable person" for evaluating threats as someone who shares the victim's protected characteristics (same race, religion, sexual orientation, disability, etc.)

Effective date: July 27, 2025; classified as a class C felony