Senate orders third reading of bill to expand Vermont hate-crime law to group-targeted acts

The Vermont Senate on the floor ordered third reading of H.118, an act to expand the scope of hate-motivated crimes so enhancements can apply when an act targets a group rather than only an identified individual. Senator Bietofsky of Chittenden Central, reporting for the Senate Judiciary Committee, explained the change and said the committee voted unanimously to recommend the bill.

The bill would revise language in Title 13, Chapter 31 so that enhancements apply when wrongdoing is motivated by hatred toward a group or perceived group membership. "This is a simple but important and meaningful change to our current statutes regarding hate crimes," Senator Bietofsky said, arguing the current statute can fail to address acts such as vandalism painted on a public building that target a group without an identifiable individual victim.

Bietofsky told the Senate the committee heard from the Office of Racial Equity, the attorney general, and legislative counsel before voting 5-0-0 to advance the bill. She cited reported incidents statewide—"In Vermont in 2021, there were 41 reported instances of hate crimes, and by 2023, that had risen to 53"—and said the number is likely underreported. She also stressed that the bill does not create a standalone speech offense: the enhancement applies only as an addition to an underlying crime.

On the floor the question for a third reading was put by voice vote; "the ayes have it," and the Senate ordered the bill read a third time. No roll-call tally of senators was recorded on the transcript.

The bill text and committee report were discussed in committee but were not read in full on the floor during this session. The next formal step is the third reading, as ordered by the Senate.