Ryus bill clarifying hate crime law signed by governor

House Bill 1052, recently signed into law by Gov. Bob Ferguson, strengthens Washington's hate crime statutes by clarifying that bias can be one of multiple motives for such offenses. The legislation allows prosecutors to hold offenders accountable when crimes are committed "in whole or in part" due to a victim's race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics. Rep. Cindy Ryu emphasized that this change is crucial to ensure that hate does not hide behind legal ambiguity.

King County Prosecuting Attorney Leesa Manion expressed appreciation for the law, stating it enables better accountability for perpetrators of mixed-motive hate crimes. The bill received bipartisan support, passing the House with a 61-31 vote and the Senate with a 30-19 vote. Concerns from prosecutors and civil rights advocates prompted the introduction of this bill, as previous standards were seen as too narrow. This update reflects the complex nature of many hate crimes and aims to improve conviction rates. By explicitly including mixed motives, the law seeks to ensure justice for victims targeted because of their identity.