Prohibiting civil rights violations based on disability, gender identity or sexual orientation

HB 2907 prohibits violence or intimidation targeting individuals due to disability, gender identity, or sexual orientation, expanding existing civil rights protections in West Virginia. It makes such acts a felony punishable by up to $5,000 fines or 10 years in prison, while specifying that protected speech or associations cannot be used as evidence unless directly tied to the crime. The bill also mandates judges to consider alternative sentencing, such as community corrections programs, for convicted individuals and requires courts to assess whether rehabilitation or reintegration is possible. This law, designated as "Angel’s Law," applies to anyone violating these civil rights in the state.