Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
After Colorado Springs mass shooting, NY Gov. Hochul signs hate crime bills
By
Jon Campbell
Published Nov 22, 2022
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jon Campbell
Published Nov 22, 2022
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Those convicted of hate crimes in New York will soon be required to complete a counseling program aimed at preventing future discriminatory crimes, according to a bill signed into law on Tuesday by Gov. Kathy Hochul.
The new measure changes a single word in state law to require judges to impose the prevention course as part of any hate crime sentence. Previously, judges had the option to impose the course, but weren’t required to do so.
The bill was one of two Hochul signed into law Tuesday that are focused on hate crimes.
Today, we reclaim both (New York City and state) from the haters, the bigots, the white supremacists. It starts right here, right now, because New York belongs to the good, not those filled with hate in their hearts.
Gov. Kathy Hochul
The second bill will require Hochul’s administration to launch a statewide campaign promoting “acceptance, inclusion, tolerance and understanding of diversity,” complete with social media promotion and educational materials focused on accepting different races, religions, colors, creeds, ethnicities and more.
The signings came days after a mass shooting at a Colorado Springs LGBTQ club left five dead and two men were arrested in Penn Station for allegedly planning an attack against Jewish people, as well as six months after 10 were killed at a supermarket in a predominantly Black neighborhood of Buffalo.
“Today, we reclaim both (New York City and state) from the haters, the bigots, the white supremacists,” Hochul said during a bill signing event at her Manhattan office. “It starts right here, right now, because New York belongs to the good, not those filled with hate in their hearts.”
So far in 2022, there have been 469 hate crime incidents in New York City, according to NYPD data. That’s up from 414 incidents over the same period last year.
Under the newly signed bills, the diversity campaign — which was sponsored by Democratic state Sen. Anna Kaplan and Assemblymember Charles Lavine, both of Long Island — must take effect by April 1, 2023.
The training requirement for those convicted of hate crimes will take effect in 30 days. The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Toby Ann Stavisky of Queens and Assemblymember Rebecca Seawright of Manhattan.
Tagged
LGBTQ
mass shooting
Kathy Hochul
hate crime
Jon Campbell
Jon Campbell covers the New York State Capitol for WNYC and Gothamist. Prior to that, he covered the Capitol for more than a decade for the USA TODAY Network. He has twice earned the Walter T. Brown Memorial Award, an honor given annually by the Legislative Correspondents Association alumni for outstanding state government coverage. Jon grew up in the Buffalo area and graduated from the University at Albany. Got a tip? Email Jon at [email protected] or Signal at JonCampbellNY.90.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC Council to consider earlier Legionella reporting after deadly outbreaks
A bill facing a hearing Monday would require cooling tower owners to notify city health officials when bacteria levels reach a much lower threshold.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Oct 18, 2026 at 7:36 p.m. ET
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
News
Staten Island fire injures 2, but spares historic 'Godfather' church
Dozens of firefighters responded to the blaze, which started in a vacant warehouse. It was contained within three hours.
By
Giulia Heyward
Bail reform remains major issue in NY governor's race, 7 years after it became law
By
Gino Fanelli
NYPD identifies Bronx man, 26, killed in Midtown subway shooting
By
Ryan Kost
,
Elizabeth Kim
and
Phil Corso
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
By
Ryan Kost
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .