Michigan House approves update to 1980s-era hate crime laws

by Rachel Louise Just | Sinclair Broadcast Group | Tue, June 20th 2023, 8:52 PM EDT

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan House has approved a series of bills that will update the state's hate crime laws for what sponsors say is the first time since the 1980s.

Sponsors of the Michigan Hate Crime Act say the language in the state's current hate crime laws do not have protections for some of the state's most vulnerable groups, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, elderly Michiganders, and people with disabilities.

The bills were introduced by lawmakers and Attorney General Dana Nessel in April and were voted out of a House committee in June.

First-term Rep. Noah Arbit, D-West Bloomfield, said in early June that state Republicans have supported similar bills in the past, adding he was hopeful that would continue this session.

"Hate crimes are rising in the state of Michigan, and hate crimes are different from any other crime because they are terroristic in nature," Arbit said. "There's never just one victim of a hate crime, there's an entire community that's victimized, too."

Rep. Emily Dievendorf, the first openly nonbinary lawmaker in Michigan, celebrated the passage of the bills on Tuesday.

"Today is just a mixture of incredible relief and also regret and loss for those folks that we just did not make it happen in time for," Dievendorf, D-Lansing, said. "It's surreal."

Some Republicans spoke against the bills Tuesday, saying they would infringe on free speech and criminalize unpopular views.

"As it is written, the risk that disfavored opinions will become criminal under this legislation is too severe," said Rep. Andrew Fink, R-Adams Township, in a floor speech explaining his no vote. (House Bills 4474-4477)

Original article link: https://wwmt.com/news/local/hate-crime-laws-michigan-representatives-vote-bills-strengthen-protections-lgbtq-elderly-disabilities-june-politics-government-lansing-ingham-county-west-michigan