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H.R. 4603: Hate Crimes Prevention Act

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H.R. 4603: Hate Crimes Prevention Act

114th Congress · introduced 2016-02-24 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2016-02-24 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Hate Crimes Prevention Act

Plain summary

Hate Crimes Prevention Act This bill amends the federal criminal code to prohibit firearm sale or transfer to and receipt or possession by an individual who has: (1) been convicted of a misdemeanor hate crime, or (2) received an enhanced hate crime misdemeanor sentence. It defines "misdemeanor hate crime" as a misdemeanor offense that has, as an element, that the conduct was motivated by hate or bias because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of any person. An "enhanced hate crime misdemeanor sentence" is an enhanced sentence imposed for a misdemeanor that is based, in whole or in part, on conduct motivated by hate or bias because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability of any person.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Hate Crimes Prevention Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] · 74 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Robin L. Kelly (D-IL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Hakeem S. Jeffries (D-NY), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), Al Green (D-TX), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Katherine M. Clark (D-MA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Doris O. Matsui (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Alma S. Adams (D-NC), Brad Sherman (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), John B. Larson (D-CT), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Joe Courtney (D-CT), William R. Keating (D-MA) and 14 more.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong114-hr4603 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong114 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong114