On Tuesday, the Omaha City Council passed an ordinance adding the offense of hate intimidation.
Adding the hate intimidation offense follows suit with Nebraska statutes, which allow for a hate crime enhancement, and equips Omaha law enforcement with a "discrimination-based offense."
The new ordinance is not an enhancement, but allows for separate prosecution, according to council documents.
The violation focuses on the intent to intimidate someone or a group "because of the actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, or physical or mental disability" as a "separate and distinct offense."