FL S0940

Expands hate crime grounds to include prejudice based on gender and gender identity, in addition to existing protected categories (race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, homeless status, and advanced age)

Defines "gender identity" as a person's gender-related identity, appearance, or behavior, regardless of whether it differs from that traditionally associated with the person's physiology or assigned sex at birth

Changes hate crime reclassification language from applying only to crimes against "the victim" to crimes based on prejudice against "any person," potentially broadening applicability

Replaces "mental or physical disability" terminology with "disability" and updates its definition to mean a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities

Specifies that crime reclassification occurs if the offense was based "in whole or in part" on a protected characteristic, rather than requiring sole motivation