The bill amends Florida Statutes to expand the grounds for reclassifying crimes that evidence prejudice. Specifically, it includes acts based on the gender or gender identity of any person, in addition to existing categories such as race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, and homeless status. The reclassification will occur if the crime is based in whole or in part on these specified characteristics. The bill also revises definitions related to these terms, including the definition of "disability," which replaces "mental or physical disability" with a broader definition that encompasses various impairments.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the Governor collect and disseminate data on incidents of criminal acts evidencing prejudice based on the newly included categories. This data collection will now include incidents related to gender identity and disability. The effective date for the implementation of this act is set for July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 271 Filed: 775.085, 775.0863, 877.19