The Assembly Select Committee on Racism, Hate, and Xenophobia convened on June 25, 2025, to address the rising trends in hate crimes across California. The meeting focused on recent statistics that reveal a concerning increase in hate crime incidents and the implications for affected communities.

The committee began by reviewing data indicating that reported hate crime events rose by 2.7% from 2023 to 2024. Specifically, hate crime offenses increased by 8.9%, from 2,359 incidents in 2023 to 2,568 in early 2024. The number of victims reporting hate crimes also saw an uptick of 8.2%, rising from 2,303 to 2,491.

The discussions highlighted that anti-Black bias events, while still the most prevalent, experienced a decrease of 4.6%, dropping from 518 incidents in 2023 to 494 in 2024. In contrast, anti-Jewish bias events rose significantly, increasing by 7.3% from 289 to 310 incidents. Anti-Asian bias events decreased by 4.8%, from 125 to 119, while anti-Islamic bias incidents fell from 40 to 24.

The committee noted a notable increase in hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation bias, which rose by 12.3% from 405 to 455 incidents. Similarly, anti-transgender bias events increased by the same percentage, from 65 to 73.

Furthermore, the meeting addressed the legal response to these crimes, revealing that the number of hate crimes referred for prosecution increased from 679 in 2023 to 818 in 2024. Of these, 506 cases were filed by district attorneys and city attorneys, with 327 classified specifically as hate crimes.

The committee concluded with a commitment to continue monitoring these trends and to explore legislative measures aimed at combating hate crimes and supporting affected communities. The discussions underscored the urgent need for action in addressing the rising tide of hate and discrimination in California.