Bill > S0450

This bill expands Florida's hate crime laws to provide enhanced legal protections and penalties for crimes motivated by prejudice against additional groups. Specifically, the bill adds "gender" and "gender identity" to the existing list of characteristics that can trigger enhanced criminal penalties, ensuring that crimes partially or fully motivated by bias against these characteristics result in more severe legal consequences. The bill also updates the definition of disability to include physical, psychological, or intellectual impairments that substantially limit major life activities, replacing the previous narrower definition. Additionally, the bill requires the Governor's Department of Law Enforcement to collect and report monthly data on criminal acts demonstrating prejudice based on the expanded list of characteristics, which now includes gender identity and disability. The changes to these statutes broaden the legal understanding of hate crimes, providing more comprehensive protection for individuals who may be targeted because of their gender, gender identity, or disability. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, giving state agencies and law enforcement time to prepare for the new reporting and legal classification requirements.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/450