Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Spartanburg council adopts local hate-intimidation ordinance on second reading
Summary
On Oct. 13, 2025 the Spartanburg City Council approved a second-reading ordinance creating a separate offense for crimes motivated by race, religion, sexual orientation, disability and other protected characteristics; council removed language referencing suspension of penalties by completion of education or counseling after staff recommendation.
Spartanburg City Council on Oct. 13 approved a local ordinance creating a separate offense of "hate intimidation" punishable by up to 30 days in jail, a fine of up to $500, or both.
The ordinance, introduced at second reading and carried by majority vote during the meeting, defines the offense as committing an underlying violation of the city's code "with the intent to harm, injure, or intimidate another person or persons in whole or in part because of ethnicity, race, color, creed, national origin, religion, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or the physical or mental disability of the victim." City Attorney Robert Cole recommended striking a sentence in the draft that said a court could suspend fines or jail time upon completion of education, counseling or community service; council accepted that change before the vote.
Why it matters: supporters said the ordinance fills gaps where state law does not provide local protections, while opponents raised questions about who would design any post-conviction education…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
