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, including replacing "mental or physical disability" with the term "disability" and providing a new definition for "disability" that encompasses various impairments that substantially limit major life activities.

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 includes monthly reporting from law enforcement agencies to ensure comprehensive data collection. The changes aim to enhance the legal framework surrounding hate crimes and improve the tracking of such incidents in Florida. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

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