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HB 596

Require uninsured motorist coverage; increase minimum coverage

136th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Sean Brennan and 3 co-sponsors

Expands hate-crime penalties, adds bias-m Motive tracking and training, expands civil remedies, and allows restorative justice for bias-based offenses in North Carolina.

Referred to committee
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Bill Summary · HB 596

Summary — HB 596: Hate Crimes Prevention Act

Sponsor: Representative Majeed
Subject areas: Crimes, Criminal procedure, Sentencing, Law enforcement training, Data & records, Courts, Victim remedies

This summary covers the bill titled the “Hate Crimes Prevention Act” (HB 596), which expands the scope and penalties for bias-motivated offenses and creates statewide reporting, training, and prosecutorial supports.

Purpose and intent

The bill strengthens North Carolina’s legal framework for hate/bias-motivated crimes by (1) expanding which offenses qualify as hate crimes and increasing penalties for those offenses, (2) creating a hate-crimes data collection requirement, and (3) requiring targeted training for law enforcement and prosecutors. It also expands civil remedies available to victims and authorizes restorative-justice options in appropriate cases.

Key provisions

  • Expanded penalty enhancements:
    • Class 2 or Class 3 misdemeanors committed “because of” a protected characteristic are elevated to Class 1 misdemeanors.
    • Class A1 or Class 1 misdemeanors committed for bias are elevated to Class H felonies.
    • Adds a new hate-crime felony for felonious assault when serious bodily injury is inflicted because of an actual or perceived protected trait:
    • Default classification: Class F felony.
    • Elevated to Class E felony if death results or the offense includes kidnapping or specified forcible sexual offenses.
  • Protected characteristics: explicitly includes actual or perceived race, ethnicity, color, religion, nationality/country of origin, gender, disability, and sexual orientation.
  • Civil remedies: victims (and immediate family members) may bring civil actions for actual damages (expressly including emotional distress), punitive damages, reasonable attorneys’ fees, and litigation costs against offenders.
  • Restorative justice: courts may order restorative justice sessions between offender and victim when the victim requests; sessions must be conducted by trained individuals and costs borne by defendant if ordered.
  • Evidence limitation: expressions or associations of the accused generally may not be admitted as substantive evidence unless they specifically relate to the charged crime.
  • Sentencing/record enhancement: adds bias-motivation as a factor in criminal records/sentencing provisions (amendment to G.S. 15A-1340.16(d)(17)).
  • Reporting and training requirements:
    • Directs the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) to create and maintain a hate-crimes statistics database.
    • Requires the North Carolina Justice Academy to develop and provide law-enforcement training on identifying, responding to, and reporting hate crimes.
    • Requires the Conference of District Attorneys to develop and provide prosecutor training on prosecuting hate crimes.

Who would be affected

  • Victims of bias-motivated conduct (expanded legal remedies and enhanced penalties).
  • Defendants (exposure to higher-class felony charges for bias-motivated conduct).
  • Local and state law enforcement agencies and the SBI (new reporting duties; will use/submit data to the new database).
  • North Carolina Justice Academy and the Conference of District Attorneys (responsible for developing/delivering training).
  • Courts and prosecutors (new charges, evidentiary rules, civil litigation).

Procedural / timeline notes

  • Sponsor: Representative Majeed (bill title and text as provided).
  • The bill increases prosecutorial and administrative responsibilities (database creation and ongoing training). The text includes statutory amendments across multiple chapters (criminal code, sentencing, and procedures).
  • Fiscal effects are not specified in the text provided; implementation would likely entail modest costs for SBI data systems, training development/delivery, and potential increases in prosecutions and court activity.

Considerations

  • Implementation will require coordination between SBI, Justice Academy, district attorneys, and local law enforcement for standardized reporting and curriculum.
  • The bill balances criminal enhancements with expanded civil remedies and restorative-justice options; courts will need guidance on when restorative processes are appropriate.
  • Evidence restriction language will require careful application by prosecutors and trial courts to avoid excluding probative material that directly relates to motive.

If you want, I can:
- Draft a one-page quick-reference for prosecutors and law enforcement summarizing new charge elements and reporting steps; or
- Produce a short impact checklist (data systems, training, budget items) for agencies likely to implement the bill.

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

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