Democrats in Washington State are pushing through new legislation that will launch a new “hate crime hotline.”
The recently passed bill with enact the hotline in 2025 that seeks to crack down on “bias incidents.”
Senate Bill 5427 is sponsored by State Sen. Javier Valdez, a Seattle Democrat.
Despite Republican opposition, the legislation easily passed the state House on Wednesday with unanimous support from the Democrat majority.
The bill stated that the attorney general’s office “shall oversee a hate crimes and bias incidents hotline staffed during business hours and dedicated to assisting people who have been targeted or affected by hate crimes and bias incidents.”
The hotline would primarily “identify local service providers and culturally specific services” with a focus on “historically underserved communities.”
In addition, the office would establish an advisory committee with “diverse and inclusive representation.”
The committee would provide “advice and assistance” on how to tackle reports of wrongthink received by the hotline.
The bill stated that a pilot hotline program must be developed and implemented in at least three Washington counties by July 2025.
By January 2027, the program will be rolled out statewide and available to all counties.
By July 2027, the attorney general’s office will be obligated to provide information regarding “hate crimes and bias incidents” reported to the hotline.
An annual report available to the public.
The bill will now go to the desk of Democrat Gov. Jay Inslee, who is expected to sign it into law.
Senate Bill 5427 previously failed to pass the state Senate’s Ways and Means Committee in 2023.
One of the bill’s provisions, which offered “compensation” for “hate crimes,” caused a backlash.
Critics blasted the bill as a “tattletale hotline” that encourages people to “cash in” on “hate crimes.”
The original House bill read:
“The attorney general’s office may provide compensation to persons targeted or affected by hate crimes and bias incidents by authorizing expenditures from the Washington hate crime and bias incident account, established in section 3 of this act, up to a maximum of $2,000 per person targeted or affected by a specific hate crime or bias incident, subject to the availability of funds in the account and the requirements of this act.”
The latest Senate bill did not include references to compensation for “affected” persons.
Washington’s lawmakers approved creating a category of hate crimes in 2019, which defined such a crime as one in which a perpetrator intentionally or maliciously causes physical harm to another person based on race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, and “other identities.”
According to the attorney general’s office, “hate crimes” are considered a Class C felony in the state punishable by up to five years in prison and/or a $100,000 fine.
“Hate crime” victims can also bring civil lawsuits against their perpetrators for damage compensation of up to $100,000 along with attorney fees.
