On Friday, June 26, 2020, Georgia House Bill 426, known as the Hate Crimes Bill, was the center of a historic bill-signing ceremony at the Georgia State Capitol in Atlanta.
During the ceremony, Governor Brian Kemp signed the legislation surrounded by Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, Speaker of the House David Ralston, Judiciary Non-Civil Chairman Chuck Efstration, Dean of the House Calvin Smyre and members This law makes it of the Georgia General As sembly.
a crime to target persons, actual or perceived, due to their race, color, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, and the law will become effective July 1, 2020, since it passed and received the Governor’s approval within the 40 days after the end of the legislative session.
The following statements regarding the Hate Crimes Bill (HB 426) were issued by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Speaker of the House at the ceremony on Friday: “Today we took an important, necessary step forward for Georgia.
“House Bill 426, a bipartisan piece of legislation, demonstrates that Georgia is a welcoming state to each and every person regardless of their race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.
