AN ACT relating to hate crimes.

Repeal and reenact KRS 532.031 to define "gender identity or expression"; list the actions that qualify as hate crimes; list the actual or perceived characteristics a person must have in order to qualify as a victim of a hate crime; outline penalties for a person guilty of a hate crime; set forth criteria for seeking an enhanced sentence; amend KRS 15.334 and to add characteristics of a victim to be considered when determining the cause…

Introduced: January 22, 2026

Last action: January 30, 2026

To Judiciary (H)

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This bill rewrites Kentucky's hate crime law to define specific characteristics that can make someone a hate crime victim, clarify what actions count as hate crimes, and set out penalties including the possibility of enhanced sentencing. It also allows victims to sue for damages in civil court regardless of whether a criminal case is pursued, requires law enforcement officers to receive hate crime training, and ties funding for local police departments to having written hate…

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