A new Washington state law does not offer cash for reporting hate speech

CLAIM: Washington state passed a bill that will incentivize people to report hate speech and bias on a 24/7 hotline with a cash reward.

AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. The final version of the bill, SB 5427, signed by Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Democrat, on Tuesday, does not offer any such compensation. In its original version, the bill outlined a fund that would have allowed for victims of hate crimes or bias incidents to receive up to $2,000. All versions of the bill stipulate the establishment of a reporting hotline that will be staffed during business hours, not 24/7.

THE FACTS: Soon after the bill was signed into law, social media users falsely claimed that it will allow people to tattletale on members of their community for financial gain.

“Not satire: Washington state has passed a law offering cash as an incentive to report hate speech and bias via a 24/7 hotline,” reads one X post that had received approximately 9,900 likes and shares as of Friday.