This bill amends the Civil Rights Act by changing the standard for civil rights enforcement. It introduces new legal language that requires prohibited conduct to be "substantially motivated by hostility towards the victim's" protected characteristics, which include race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, sex, gender identity, or disability. The existing language that does not specify this standard is deleted, thereby tightening the criteria under which civil rights violations can be assessed.

The bill is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, and it is expected to have indeterminable impacts on state and local expenditures due to potential changes in the judicial and correctional systems. The bill does not project any revenue changes and has been reviewed by various agencies, including the Judicial Branch and the Department of Justice, to assess its implications on enforcement and legal proceedings related to civil rights.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 354-B:1
SB464 text: 354-B:1