HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 454        FILED ON: 1/9/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Christine P. Barber

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to amend the definition of hate crime.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 454        FILED ON: 1/9/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1392 OF 2023-2024.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act to amend the definition of hate crime.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 1. Section 39(a) of Chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 official edition, is hereby amended by replacing the words “of a person” in Line 2 with the words “of another” and replacing the words “such person” in Line 3 with the words “a person.”

Section 2. Section 39(a) of Chapter 265 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 official edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph after paragraph one of the said section: “If restitution is ordered under the provisions of this section for purposes of repairing the damage done to the real or personal property with intent to intimidate a person because of such person’s race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, such restitution shall be used to repair the damage done to the property.”