Relating to hate crimes, including criminal and civil liability for those crimes and the hate crime prevention grant program; increasing a criminal penalty.

HB 4982 creates a new civil liability framework for hate crimes in Texas, allowing victims to sue perpetrators for damages. It defines hate crimes as offenses targeting individuals based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics. Victims may recover actual damages, punitive damages up to three times actual damages, and an additional $25,000 if threats occur during litigation - without needing a prior criminal conviction. The bill also requires courts to make bias findings in hate crime cases under criminal procedure codes.