WA SB5038

Amends RCW 9A.36.080 to clarify that a hate crime offense applies when criminal acts are 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 motivation

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

Commission of a hate crime offense is classified as a class C felony

Sponsored by Senators Dhingra, Valdez, Salomon, Pedersen, and Trudeau; prefiled December 13, 2024 for the 2025 Regular Session