II 116th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3228 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 28, 2020 Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Ms. Murkowski ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary A BILL To amend section 249 of title 18, United States Code, relating to hate crimes, to clarify the motive requirement.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Justice for Victims of Hate Crimes Act . 2. Motive requirement for hate crimes Section 249(c) of title 18, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as paragraphs (2) through (6), respectively; and (2) by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesignated, the following: (1) the term because of means that the actual or perceived protected characteristic of the victim was a substantial motivating factor in the offense; .