Bill > HB1147

This bill amends Indiana Code 10-13-3-1 to expand the definition of a "bias crime" by adding "gender identity" to the list of protected characteristics. Currently, a bias crime is defined as an offense where the perpetrator knowingly or intentionally selects a victim or targets property because of the victim's color, creed, disability, national origin, race, religion, or sexual orientation, or because of the victim's association with a recognizable group. The proposed amendment would explicitly include gender identity as a characteristic that, if used as a motivation for selecting a victim or targeting property, would qualify the offense as a bias crime. By adding this provision, the bill aims to provide legal protection for individuals who may be targeted due to their gender identity, which refers to a person's internal sense of gender, which may or may not correspond to the sex they were assigned at birth. The amendment is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, giving time for legal systems and law enforcement to prepare for the updated definition.

Justice

https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2025/bills/house/1147/details