Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Friday signed legislation allowing additional penalties to be imposed for crimes motivated by a victim’s race, religion, sexual orientation or other factors, removing Georgia from the dwindling list of U.S. states without a hate crimes law.
State lawmakers acted with haste to pass the legislation, which had previously been stalled, following the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, as well as recent nationwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality.
Republican Rep. Chuck Efstration, who sponsored the bill, said Friday that decision left Georgia with a “gap in our law.
Before Kemp’s signing of House Bill 426, Georgia was one of only four U.S. states without a hate crimes law.
Many business and political leaders, as well as civil rights organizations, have been vocal in pushing for passage of a hate crimes law in Georgia.
