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FL S1312
Bill
Status
Failed
6/16/2025
Primary Sponsor
Barbara Sharief
Click for details
AI Summary
- Adds gender (defined as sex assigned at birth) to the list of protected characteristics under Florida's hate crime statute (s. 775.085), joining race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, homeless status, and advanced age
- Clarifies that crime penalty reclassification applies when prejudice is based in whole or in part on the actual or perceived characteristics of the victim, broadening the standard from prior law
- Expands the definition of "victim" to include not only individuals but also public/private organizations and government entities whose property is defaced, damaged, or destroyed based on prejudice
- Broadens the definition of "mental or physical disability" to include impairments that substantially limit major life activities, and adds explicit definitions for key terms such as race (including hair texture and protective hairstyles), ethnicity, national origin, and religion
- Maintains the existing penalty reclassification structure, escalating offenses by one degree (e.g., second-degree misdemeanor to first-degree misdemeanor, first-degree felony to life felony), with an effective date of July 1, 2025
Legislative Description
Crimes Evidencing Prejudice
Last Action
Died in Criminal Justice
6/16/2025
Full Bill Text
No bill text available