Bill would change Minnesota hate crime laws

(St. Paul, MN) -- A proposed bill is aiming to change Minnesota hate crime laws.

The House bill would update hate offense laws to more specifically count crimes against Asian Americans.

Representative Samantha Vang, who is one of two Hmong women to serve in the state House, is sponsoring the bill. She says she was motivated by an increase in rhetoric used against Asian Americans during the height of the pandemic.

The laws would not apply to slurs shouted at a person because of their race.