House Speaker Matthew Shepherd talks up the substitute hate crimes bill that passed Monday.
A watered-down substitute for a hate crime bill passed the House Monday, leaving Arkansas still among the only three states without meaningful legislation to protect commonly targeted groups.
The House passed Senate Bill 622 with 65 yes votes, 26 nos and five lawmakers voting present. The bill already has Senate approval, and now heads to the governor’s desk.
Governor Hutchinson has indicated he will sign the bill into law.
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House members pass SB 622, a substitute for the hate crimes bill rejected earllier this session.
The bill requires that someone convicted of committing crimes targeting victims based on their group or class to serve a minimum of 80% of his or her sentence. Unlike hate crimes bills in other states, though, this bill does not specify what those classes or groups are. House Speaker