Michigan’s Democratic-led House of Representatives passed a number of bills last week increasing penalties for hate crimes as part of a package of legislation that would alter the state’s Ethnic Intimidation Act.
Introduced in April, House Bill 4474 would expand the definition of hate crimes by protecting classes of sex, sexual orientation, age, gender identity or physical or mental disabilities, and other “actual or perceived characteristics of another Individual.” Religion, ethnicity, and race are protected under Michigan’s current law from 1988.
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“No one in Michigan should ever be made to feel unsafe because of who they are, or what community they belong to,” Democratic state Rep. Noah Arbit, the bill’s sponsor, said in a statement.
“This legislation will provide improved tools to respond, pursue justice, and accountability, and create opportunities to reduce hate violence in Michigan,” Arbit said.
The legislation would update Michigan’s state law regarding hate crimes, allowing for individuals convicted of hate crimes to be sentenced to up to five years in prison, and adding a potential fine of up to $10,000. Under Michigan’s current ethnic intimidation law, violators have the possibility of a maximum two-year prison sentence and/or a $5,000 fine.
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The legislation passed 59-50 in the Democratic-controlled House last week, along with a handful of other bills aimed at reclassifying certain offenses as hate crimes. The Institutional Desecration Act, passed by margins of 83-26, is intended to prevent defacement, destruction, and vandalism of communal property. Two other bills in the package, House Bill 4475 and House Bill 4477, focus on updating sentencing guidelines.
Democrats in the chamber hold a narrow majority of 56-54, flipping the previously Republican-ran House in the 2022 midterm elections.
