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SB 827

Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Gale Adcock and 8 co-sponsors

The bill expands hate crime offenses and penalties, creates a centralized hate crime statistics database, and requires mandatory training for law enforcement, prosecutors, and judg

Passed 1st Reading
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Bill Summary · SB 827

Summary of SB 827 (2025 Session) – North Carolina

Title: Hate Crimes Prevention Act

Jurisdiction: North Carolina

Short description: A bill to expand the scope and penalties for hate crimes, create a state hate crimes statistics database, and implement targeted training for law enforcement, prosecutors, and judicial training institutions.

Sponsors: Senators Chaudhuri (primary) and Mohammed; additional sponsor Chaudhuri listed as co-sponsor.

Status: Filed April 22, 2026

Key objectives
- Increase the scope and punishment for hate-motivated offenses.
- Establish a centralized hate crimes statistics database and reporting requirements.
- Create mandatory training for law enforcement, prosecutors, and justice agencies on identifying, responding to, and prosecuting hate crimes.

Major Provisions

1) Expanded hate crimes offenses and penalties (Part II)
- Expansion of hate-crime components in existing statutes:
- G.S. 14-3: Punishment framework updated to include crimes committed with ethnic animosity as hate crimes.
- Subsection (c): Elevates classifications for offenses motivated by protected characteristics:
- If a Class 2 or Class 3 misdemeanor is committed because of protected characteristics (race, ethnicity, color, religion, nationality, origin, gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, or sexual orientation of the victim or someone associated with the victim), the offense becomes a Class 1 misdemeanor.
- If a Class A1 or Class 1 misdemeanor is committed for such reasons, the offense becomes a Class H felony.
- Civil relief (Subsection (d)): Victims or their immediate family may sue for actual damages (including emotional distress), punitive damages, attorney fees, and other costs, with burden of proof aligned with other civil actions.
- Restorative justice (Subsection (e)): Offenders convicted or pleaing to the hate-crime conduct may be ordered to participate in a restorative justice session if requested by the victim; session overseen by a trained practitioner (Human Relations Commission member, attorney, mediator, or dispute-resolution professional with racial equity training); defendant bears all costs.

  • Ethnic intimidation enhancements (Part II, Section 2(b)):

    • Adds hate-crime elements to acts of intimidation, assault, property damage, or threats based on protected characteristics, with civil remedies and restorative justice similar to above.
    • Restorative justice provisions mirror those in 14-3 modifications.

  • Felonious assault as hate crime (Part II, Section 2(d)):

    • Adds a new hate-crime felonious assault statute (new §14-34.11):
    • Definition of protected characteristics includes gender identity and expression.
    • Offenses resulting in serious bodily injury or attempted serious bodily injury, committed because of protected characteristics, constitute felonious assault as a hate crime.
    • Classification:
      • Generally Class F felony.
      • Class E felony if death results, or if certain enumerated offenses (kidnapping, rape offenses) are involved.
    • Civil remedies and restorative justice options apply as with other hate crime provisions.

  • Effective date for enhanced penalties: Applies to offenses committed on or after December 1, 2026 (Section 2(e)).

2) Hate crime statistics database (Part III)
- Establishment: Creates a hate crime statistics section under G.S. 143B-1209.
- VBIB (State Bureau of Investigation, SBI) to collect, analyze, and disseminate data on offenses punishable under:
- G.S. 14-3(c) (hate crime enhancements)
- G.S. 14-401.14 (ethnic intimidation; intimidation by hate crime)
- G.S. 14-34.11 (felonious assault as hate crime)
- Data elements include:
- Total offenses by type
- Protected characteristics of offender and victim
- Disposition of each offense

  • Reporting requirements:

    • Local and state law enforcement must report monthly by the 15th day of each month.
    • SBI to format reports and publish an annual summary to the General Assembly and on its website.

  • Timeline and implementation:

    • Guidelines for data submission and reporting to be published by SBI at least 60 days before first reports.
    • First report requirements:
    • Subsection (b): February 15, 2027
    • Subsection (c): January 15, 2028 (annual report publication)
    • Funding:
    • $1,890,000 (nonrecurring) for 2026-2027 to establish the database.
    • $530,000 (recurring) starting 2026-2027 to hire an additional staff member for ongoing management.

  • Effective dates:

    • Core database provisions: January 1, 2027 (subsection (a)); other provisions effective July 1, 2026.

3) Law enforcement training (Part IV)
- Training requirements for identifying, responding to, and reporting hate crimes:
- The North Carolina Justice Academy (NCJA) must develop and provide training for law enforcement on hate crimes as defined by the statute.
- Standards alignment:
- The Criminal Justice Education and Training standards (State Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, maintained under G.S. Chapters 17D-2, 17C-6, and 17E-4) must incorporate training on hate crime identification, response, and reporting.

4) Prosecutor training (Part V)
- The North Carolina Conference of District Attorneys must develop and provide training to prosecutors on prosecuting hate crimes (defined to include offenses under G.S. 14-3(c), 14-401.14, or 14-34.11).

5) Effective dates (Part VI)
- General effective date aligned with act passage unless otherwise specified.

Potential impact

  • For victims: Expanded civil remedies and restorative justice options; clearer pathways for civil redress and enhanced protections against bias-motivated harm.
  • For offenders: Higher penalties for hate-motivated offenses; new felonious assault hate-crime standard; broader scope to prosecute and seek enhanced punishment.
  • For law enforcement and prosecutors: Mandatory, state-supported training; standardized reporting and data collection to improve traceability and accountability.
  • For state agencies: SBI gains a new centralized hate crimes database with annual reporting to the General Assembly; initial funding and ongoing staffing to support implementation.
  • For local governments and agencies: Monthly reporting to SBI will require data collection and reporting workflows to align with new standards.

Notes
- The act contains both criminal-law changes (enhanced penalties) and civil-justice components (damages, restorative justice).
- It also creates a new data infrastructure to track hate crimes and requires multi-agency training across enforcement and prosecution communities.
- Several provisions become effective in 2026-2027, with specific offenses taking effect as noted in the text.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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