Rat out your neighbors: Washington governor to sign bill creating a 'hate crime hotline' in the state

OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON - According to a recent bill passed in Washington in February, the state will have a statewide “hate crime hotline” by 2027.

Hate crimes in the State of Washington are classified as Class C felonies and are punishable by a $100,000 fine and/or up to five years in prison according to the State attorney general’s office. Additionally, hate crime victims are allowed to bring civil lawsuits against their perpetrators, totaling up to $100,000 plus attorney fees for damage compensation.

Reporting perceived hate crimes is about to become much easier, thanks to recently passed Senate Bill 5427.

The bill summary reads, “Supporting people who have been targeted or affected by hate crimes and bias incidents by establishing a reporting hotline and tracking hate crime and bias incidents.”

In 2019, Washington lawmakers approved the creation of a category of hate crimes, Fox News reported. This category defines a hate crime as “one in which a perpetrator intentionally or maliciously causes physical hard to another person based on race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, nationality and other identities."

SB5427, sponsored by Senator Javier Valdez, D-Seattle, was first introduced in January 2023. The bill failed in the Senate Ways and Means Committee with no further action taken in 2023. Critics attacked the bill as a “tattletale hotline” that would encourage people to “cash in” on hate crimes, due to one of the bill’s provisions.

On January 8 2024, the bill was reintroduced and retained in present status. Upon the third reading of the bill, it passed in a 56-39 vote on February 28. Support from the Democrats was unanimous, while Republicans largely opposed the bill.

The bill states that the state attorney general’s office “shall oversee a hate crimes and bias incidents hotline staffed during business hours and dedicated to assisting people who have been targeting or affected by hate crimes and bias incidents.”

The original version of the House bill read, “The attorney general’s office may provide compensation to persons targeted or affected by hate crimes and bias incidents by authorizing expenditures from the Washington hate crime and bias incident account, established in section 3 of this act, up to a maximum of $2,000 per person targeted or affected by a specific hate crime or bias incident, subject to the availability of funds in the account and the requirements of this act.”

The revised and passed senate bill does not include provisions for compensation for affected persons, however, it's companion bill, House Bill 1410, does contain language surrounding providing compensation to affected persons. HB1410 was reintroduced in the Washington State House of Representatives in January after failing to pass in 2023. The bill is currently on it’s way to committee and it is unclear whether it will see any further action during this legislative session.

According to SB5427, a pilot hotline program needs to be developed and implemented in at least three counties in Washington by July of 2025, and the program available to all counties no later than January 2027.

This bill is causing concern among Washington State citizens, with critics saying it’s ripe for misinterpretation and the potential to cause harm based on the perception of one or a few people.

Governor Inslee received the bill Wednesday afternoon and is expected to sign it into law this week.