North Carolina 2023-2024 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 25 D · 2 I · 2 R cosponsors

HB 596 — Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

Last action — Passed 1st Reading

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2023-2024 Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

222 added · 220 removed

Plain-language change summary

The main change in House Bill 596 is the introduction of a provision for restorative justice sessions. If a person is convicted of a crime that falls under this bill and the victim requests it, the offender may be required to participate in a session aimed at reconciliation, guided by a trained professional. This shift emphasizes healing and understanding between the offender and the victim, potentially leading to better outcomes than traditional punishment alone. It highlights a growing focus on restorative practices in the legal system.

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GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA H.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2023 H 1 HOUSE BILL 596 Short Title:
596 Apr 10, 2023 SESSION 2023 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK H D HOUSE BILL DRH40314-MLa-74A Short Title:
Representative Majeed.
Representatives Majeed, Buansi, Cervania, and Rudow (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO INCREASE THE SCOPE AND PUNISHMENT OF HATE CRIMES;
Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House April 17, 2023 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO INCREASE THE SCOPE AND PUNISHMENT OF HATE CRIMES;
(d) In addition to any other remedies at law or in equity, a victim of an offense punished under subsection (c) of this section, or an immediate family member of the victim, may, in a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction, obtain appropriate relief from the person who committed the offense, including actual damages, punitive damages, any reasonable attorneys' fees, and any other litigation costs reasonably incurred.
(d) In addition to any other remedies at law or in equity, a victim of an offense punished under subsection (c) of this section, or an immediate familymember of the victim, may, in a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction, obtain appropriate relief from the person who committed the offense, including actual damages, punitive damages, any reasonable attorneys' fees, and any other litigation costs reasonably incurred.
(e) In addition to any other remedies at law or in equity, a person who has been convicted oforwhohas pleaded guilty orno contest to having engagedin conduct in violationofsubsection (c) of this section may be ordered to participate in a restorative justice session with the victim of *DRH40314-MLa-74A* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023 the offense if the victim requests a restorative justice session.
(e) In addition to anyother remedies at law or in equity, a person who has been convicted oforwhohas pleaded guiltyorno contest to having engagedin conduct in violationofsubsection *H596-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023 (c) of this section may be ordered to participate in a restorative justice session with the victim of the offense if the victim requests a restorative justice session.
If restorative justice under this subsection is ordered, the court shall select a member of a local Human Relations Commission, an attorney, a mediator, or an alternative dispute resolution professional, who has training in racial equity education, to conduct the restorative justice session.
If restorative justice under this subsection is ordered, the court shall select a member of a local Human Relations Commission, an attorney, a mediator, or an alternative dispute resolution professional, who has training in racial equityeducation, to conduct the restorative justice session.
(a) If a person shall, because of race, ethnicity, color, religion, nationality, or country of origin, gender, disability, or sexual orientation, assault another person, or damage or deface the property of another person, or threaten to do any such act, he the person shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
(a) If a person shall, because of race, ethnicity, color, religion, nationality, or country of origin, gender, disability, or sexual orientation, assault another person, or damage or deface the propertyof another person, or threaten to do anysuch act, he the person shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
… (c) In addition to any other remedies at law or in equity, a victim of an offense committed under this section, or an immediate family member of the victim, may, in a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction, obtain appropriate relief from the person who committed the offense, including actual damages, punitive damages, any reasonable attorneys' fees, and any other litigation costs reasonably incurred.
… (c) In addition to anyother remedies at law or in equity, a victim of an offense committed under this section, or an immediate family member of the victim, may, in a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction, obtain appropriate relief from the person who committed the offense, including actual damages, punitive damages, any reasonable attorneys' fees, and any other litigation costs reasonably incurred.
(d) In addition to any other remedies at law or in equity, a person who has been convicted oforwhohas pleaded guilty orno contest to having engagedin conduct in violationofsubsection (a) of this section may be ordered to participate in a restorative justice session with the victim of the offense if the victim requests a restorative justice session.
(d) In addition to anyother remedies at law or in equity, a person who has been convicted oforwhohas pleaded guiltyorno contest to having engagedin conduct in violationofsubsection (a) of this section may be ordered to participate in a restorative justice session with the victim of the offense if the victim requests a restorative justice session.
If restorative justice under this subsection is ordered, the court shall select a member of a local Human Relations Commission, an attorney, a mediator, or an alternative dispute resolution professional, who has training in racial equity education, to conduct the restorative justice session.
If restorative justice under this subsection is ordered, the court shall select a member of a local Human Relations Commission, an attorney, a mediator, or an alternative dispute resolution professional, who has training in racial equityeducation, to conduct the restorative justice session.
(a) For purposes of this section, the term "serious bodily injury" means bodily injury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes serious permanent disfigurement, coma, a permanent or protracted condition that causes extreme pain, or permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ or that results in prolonged hospitalization.
(a) For purposes of this section, the term "serious bodilyinjury" means bodilyinjury that creates a substantial risk of death or that causes serious permanent disfigurement, coma, a permanent or protracted condition that causes extreme pain, or permanent or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily member or organ or that results in prolonged hospitalization.
(c) Except as provided otherwise by this section, an offense committed under this section is a Class F felony.
(c) Except as provided otherwise bythis section, an offense committed under this section is a Class F felony.
(1) Death results from the offense.
Page 2 House Bill 596-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023 (1) Death results from the offense.
Page 2 DRH40314-MLa-74A General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023 (2) The offense includes a violation or attempted violation of any of the following:
(2) The offense includes a violation or attempted violation of any of the following:
(f) In addition to any other remedies at law or in equity, a victim of an offense committed under this section, or an immediate family member of the victim, may, in a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction, obtain appropriate relief from the person who committed the offense, including actual damages, punitive damages, any reasonable attorneys' fees, and any other litigation costs reasonably incurred.
(f) In addition to anyother remedies at law or in equity, a victim of an offense committed under this section, or an immediate family member of the victim, may, in a civil action in any court of competent jurisdiction, obtain appropriate relief from the person who committed the offense, including actual damages, punitive damages, any reasonable attorneys' fees, and any other litigation costs reasonably incurred.
(g) In addition to any other remedies at law or in equity, a person who has been convicted oforwhohas pleaded guilty orno contest to having engaged in conduct in violation ofsubsection (b) of this section may be ordered to participate in a restorative justice session with the victim of the offense if the victim requests a restorative justice session.
(g) In addition to anyother remedies at law or in equity, a person who has been convicted oforwhohas pleaded guiltyorno contest to having engagedin conduct in violationofsubsection (b) of this section may be ordered to participate in a restorative justice session with the victim of the offense if the victim requests a restorative justice session.
If restorative justice under this subsection is ordered, the court shall select a member of a local Human Relations Commission, an attorney, a mediator, or an alternative dispute resolution professional, who has training in racial equity education, to conduct the restorative justice session.
If restorative justice under this subsection is ordered, the court shall select a member of a local Human Relations Commission, an attorney, a mediator, or an alternative dispute resolution professional, who has training in racial equityeducation, to conduct the restorative justice session.
(c) Report by the State Bureau of Investigation.
House Bill 596-First Edition Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023 (c) Report by the State Bureau of Investigation.
– By January 15 of each year, the State Bureau of Investigation shall submit to the General Assembly a report on the information the DRH40314-MLa-74A Page 3 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023 State Bureau of Investigation collected and analyzed under subsection (a) of this section during the calendar year prior to the date the report is submitted.
– By January 15 of each year, the State Bureau of Investigation shall submit to the General Assembly a report on the information the State Bureau of Investigation collected and analyzed under subsection (a) of this section during the calendar year prior to the date the report is submitted.
143B-908(b), as enacted by subsection (a) of this section, and (ii) the format in which theinformation is to be reported by local law enforcementagencies under G.S.
143B-908(b), as enacted bysubsection (a) of this section, and (ii) the format in which theinformation is to be reported bylocal law enforcement agencies under G.S.
143B-908(b).The State Bureau of Investigation shall publish the guidelines required under this subsection on its website no later than 60 days prior to the date the first report is required to be submitted under G.S.
143B-908(b).
The State Bureau of Investigation shall publish the guidelines required under this subsection on its website no later than 60 days prior to the date the first report is required to be submitted under G.S.
… Page 4 DRH40314-MLa-74A General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023 d.
Page 4 House Bill 596-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023 … d.
PART VI.
House Bill 596-First Edition Page 5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023 PART VI.
EFFECTIVE DATE DRH40314-MLa-74A Page 5 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2023 SECTION 6.
EFFECTIVE DATE SECTION 6.
Page 6 DRH40314-MLa-74A
Page 6 House Bill 596-First Edition
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Action History

  1. Passed 1st Reading

  2. Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  3. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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3 sponsors · 31 co-sponsors · 145 not signed on

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (31)

Not signed on (145)

145 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 145 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 596?
HB 596 is sponsored by Julie von Haefen (Democratic), Neal Jackson (Republican), Nasif Majeed (U), Allen Buansi (Democratic), Maria Cervania (Democratic), Rudow, Eric Ager (Democratic), W. Ted Alexander (Republican), Vernetta Alston (Democratic), Autry, Amber M. Baker (Democratic), Cynthia Ball (Democratic), Mary Belk (Democratic), Gloristine Brown (Democratic), Kanika Brown (Democratic), Terry M. Brown Jr. (Democratic), Deb Butler (Democratic), Sarah Crawford (Democratic), Carla D. Cunningham (U), Allison A. Dahle (Democratic), Gill, Harris, Pricey Harrison (Democratic), Zack Hawkins (Democratic), Ya Liu (Democratic), Carolyn G. Logan (Democratic), Tim Longest (Democratic), Lucas, Marcia Morey (Democratic), Lindsey Prather (Democratic), Renée A. Price (Democratic), Amos L. Quick, III (Democratic), James Roberson (Democratic), and Joe John (Democratic).
What is the current status of HB 596?
This bill died with 2023-2024 Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 596?
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