OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington State Senate rejected amendments proposed by Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, that aimed to expand the state’s hate crime statute to include protections for individuals targeted based on their economic choices—such as driving a Tesla—or political affiliation.
“If we are serious about protecting people from targeted attacks based on personal characteristics, then we cannot pick and choose which groups deserve protection and which do not,” Fortunato said. “By rejecting my amendments, the Senate has signaled that politically motivated violence and economic discrimination are not worth addressing.”
Washington’s hate crime law differs from those in other states, where such offenses serve as sentence enhancements rather than standalone crimes. The proposed legislation, House Bill 1052, sought to broaden the law’s scope, making it more subjective. According to the bill’s summary:
“Modifies the conduct that constitutes a hate crime offense to include when a person commits a specified act in whole or in part because of the person’s perception of another person’s certain characteristics.”
Fortunato argued that the bill’s language is vague, making enforcement difficult by requiring authorities to determine both a perpetrator’s intent and their perception of a victim’s characteristics.
“This bill was supposed to clarify the law, but instead, it muddies the waters,” he said. “My amendments provided clear, objective protections against political and economic-based attacks—especially relevant given the rise in politically motivated violence in this country.”
Despite what Fortunato described as a practical, nonpartisan approach, the Senate majority rejected his amendments, effectively excluding individuals from protections if they are targeted for their political beliefs or economic decisions.
“This isn’t about party politics—it’s about fairness under the law,” added Fortunato. “Every Washingtonian should be protected from hate-based violence, regardless of whether they drive an electric car or support a particular political cause.”