A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/michigan" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Michigan</a> hate speech bill that has passed the state House and is now in the hands of the Senate is alarming conservatives, people of faith, and legal experts. 
The bill, <a href="http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2023-2024/billengrossed/House/pdf/2023-HEBH-4474.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HB 4474</a>, is part of a package of legislation that would <a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/michigan/2023/06/20/michigan-house-oks-new-hate-crime-church-synagogue-cemetery-desecration-penalties/70337842007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">replace</a> Michigan’s existing Ethnic Intimidation Act and make it a hate crime to cause someone to “feel terrorized, frightened, or threatened.” Under the bill’s framework, “sexual orientation” and “gender identity or expression” are included as classes protected against intimidation. If passed, the hate speech legislation would make violators guilty of a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of $10,000.  
Many conservatives have voiced concerns that the bill infringes on Americans’ First Amendment rights. Distinguished Professor Emeritus William Wagner, a former federal judge and legal counsel in the U.S. Senate, joined the chorus of politicians and lawyers warning against the bill.
“Make no mistake about it. Those advocating for this legislation will wield these policies as a weapon capable of destroying conservative expression or viewpoints grounded in the sacred,” Wagner told The Daily Wire. “One merely needs to look at the scores of cases brought against schools, churches, businesses, and individuals around our country. Proponents use these laws to silence and financially cripple those who dare to adhere to a different viewpoint and oppose their agenda.”
The newest version of the bill, which passed the House, uses the term “harassment” without defining specifically what it could refer to. 
&#8220;’Intimidate’ means a willful course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harassment of another individual that would cause a reasonable individual to feel terrorized, frightened, or threatened, and that actually causes the victim to feel terrorized, frightened, or threatened,” the bill states.
Wagner said that under HB 4474, someone could listen to a speaker such as a religious preacher or read a conservative writer and claim they’re being intimidated because their “perceived gender identity” is under attack. Under the legislation, intimidation and harassment could be up to the interpretation of the listener and a local prosecutor, according to Wagner, who added that the bill determines what is criminal “after the action,” the opposite of the due process required by the Constitution. 
Rep. Angela Rigas, a Republican freshman in the state House, told The Daily Wire that including sexual orientation and gender identity as a “protected class” specifically targets conservatives who speak out against radical gender ideology. 
<a class="c-link c-link--focus-visible" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-102078">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
“The state of Michigan is now explicitly allowing the gender delusion issue to be used as a ‘protected class.’ This opens up numerous issues when it comes to the courts and the continued weaponization of the system against conservatives,” Rigas said. “We saw similar concerns when they wanted to pass blocks on ‘conversion’ therapy. It seems Dems want to be in the business of telling people how to think. We are determined to keep choice and opinion a free choice despite those efforts.”
While HB 4474 includes a brief mention of constitutionally protected speech, it does not detail how the government would address First Amendment concerns such as religious liberty if the legislation passes and inevitably pits those who identify as LGBTQ against people of faith who oppose such lifestyles. 
“Intimidate does not include constitutionally protected activity or conduct that serves a legitimate purpose,” the bill states. 
In a Tuesday ruling that could potentially have implications for the hate speech legislation in Michigan, the Supreme Court <a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-true-threat-first-amendment-34dae41b15463a52b90f2b936fa3bb83" target="_blank" rel="noopener">set new standards</a> for what constitutes a threat, making it more difficult for a state to convict someone of making a threat. 
“The State must show that the defendant consciously disregarded a substantial risk that his communications would be viewed as threatening violence,” Justice Elena Kagan wrote for the majority opinion and was joined by six other justices. 
HB 4474 <a href="https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/michigan-house-votes-expand-hate-crimes-protect-gay-disabled-residents" target="_blank" rel="noopener">passed</a> Michigan’s Democrat-controlled House 59-50 and is currently before the Senate, which is also controlled by Democrats. If passed, the bill will likely become law after a quick signature from the state&#8217;s Democratic governor, Gretchen Whitmer. With Republicans lacking the votes to stand in the way of the legislation, conservatives will have to rely on the courts. 
“Unfortunately here in Michigan, we have lost all three branches of power in our state,” Rigas said. “While my colleagues are introducing great bills to counter the infringements to our freedoms, there is no current way to fix these issues without higher courts becoming involved.”

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Michigan Hate Speech Bill Would Make It A Felony To Cause Someone To ‘Feel’ Threatened

CONTINUE READING

Taxpayer-Funded Exorcisms? The Medicaid Debate Just Got Wild

WATCH: Footage Shows Engine Fly Off UPS Plane Before Crash Killed 15

Violent Teen Takeover Erupts Inside Chipotle As Officials Promise Parents Won’t Escape Blame

Secret Service Agent, Chinese Security Get Into Standoff During Trump Visit

Drinking Water For Thousands Threatened After Disturbing Discovery Underwater

Police ID Man Hit By Frontier Jet, Reveal Horrifying Final Moments

News

Gender Identity

Hate Speech

LGBTQ

Michigan

Politics

Sexual Orientation

Social Issues

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Michigan Hate Speech Bill Would Make It A Felony To Cause Someone To ‘Feel’ Threatened