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Senate debate over hate-crimes bill centers on intent, categories and First Amendment limits; companion evidence resolution passes
Summary
Floor debate on SB107 (hate-crimes amendments) included extended exchanges about whether to expand protected categories to include sexual orientation and gender identity and how to limit evidence of expressive association; sponsor said he would not advance SB107 without SJR13; SJR13 (rules-of-evidence resolution) passed 29-0.
Sen. Urquhart presented SB107, a package of hate-crime amendments that would expand protections and provide penalty enhancements when prosecutors prove an actor committed an offense "in whole or in part" because of a victim's protected characteristic. The bill sparked a long floor debate over the statutory standard of intent, the categories to be protected, and the potential for First Amendment conflicts.
Urquh…
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