What concerns me isn’t just this one change, it’s the broader pattern. The introduction of a “standalone hate offense” could be where things get complicated. If it overlaps with existing laws or expands definitions too far, you could end up in a situation where speech that isn’t clearly criminal still gets pulled into the legal system.
And even if charges don’t stick, the process itself can be punishing. Legal costs, stress, reputation damage, it all adds up. That’s why safeguards like requiring Attorney General consent are actually really important. It creates a buffer so these laws aren’t used impulsively or politically.