June 24, 2020–7:55 a.m.
STAFF REPORTS
Hate crimes legislation has passed in both the Georgia House and Senate.
The new law would include increased penalties and sentences for any crime motivated by a victim’s race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender or disability.
The bills passed by bipartisan votes in both chambers.
State Representatives Katie Dempsey and Eddie Lumsden voted in favor as did State Senator Chuck Hufstetler.
Governor Kemp has said he will sign the law, pending legal review.
Georgia is currently one of only a handful of states with no hate crimes laws on the books.
You can read the bill HERE.