Bill
SD 2123
Overview: Bill Number: SD 2123, Title: An Act to add sex and gender as protected classes for crime prosecutions, Status: House concurred, Introduced: February 27, 2025, Classificat
Overview: Bill Number: SD 2123, Title: An Act to add sex and gender as protected classes for crime prosecutions, Status: House concurred, Introduced: February 27, 2025, Classification: proposed bill
Purpose and Intent: The primary goal of this legislation is to expand the state's hate crime laws to explicitly include sex and gender identity as protected classes. The bill aims to strengthen legal protections and enhance penalties for crimes motivated by bias against an individual's sex or gender.
Key Provisions:
- Adds "sex" and "gender identity or expression" to the list of protected characteristics under the state's hate crime statutes
- Increases criminal penalties for offenses committed with the intent to intimidate or harass an individual based on their sex or gender
- Requires law enforcement agencies to collect and report data on hate crimes involving sex and gender bias
- Establishes training requirements for police and prosecutors on identifying and investigating gender-based hate crimes
Affected Parties and Impacts:
- Individuals who identify as women, transgender, or non-binary will have greater legal protections against bias-motivated crimes
- Law enforcement and the criminal justice system will have clearer guidelines and enhanced tools to address gender-based hate crimes
- The state will have more comprehensive data on the prevalence and nature of sex and gender-based hate crimes
Procedural and Timeline Considerations:
The bill has passed the state Senate and is currently under consideration in the House. If approved, the new hate crime provisions would take effect within 6 months of the bill's enactment.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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