Offenses Evidencing Prejudice

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about additional penalties beyond reclassification of offenses.

Offenses Evidencing Prejudice

This bill requires the reclassification of offenses to more serious levels if they evidence prejudice based on the political ideology or other personal characteristics of the victim.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the reclassification of offenses to more serious levels if they evidence prejudice based on the political ideology or other personal characteristics of the victim.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who commit crimes that show prejudice against victims based on their political beliefs or other personal characteristics will face harsher punishments.

Terms To Know

Prejudice

Unfair treatment of someone because of their race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, homeless status, advanced age, or political ideology.

Reclassification

Changing the level of a crime from one type to another (for example, changing a misdemeanor to a felony) based on certain factors.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how prejudice based on political ideology will be proven in court.
• It is unclear what additional penalties beyond reclassification of offenses are provided for these crimes.

Official Summary Text

Offenses Evidencing Prejudice; Requires reclassification of offenses evidencing prejudice based on political ideology of victim; provides penalties.

Current Bill Text

HB 143 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb143-00
Page 1 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to offenses evidencing prejudice; 2
amending s. 775.085, F.S.; requiring the 3
reclassification of offenses evidencing prejudice 4
based on the political ideology of the victim; 5
providing penalties; providing an effective date. 6
7
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 8
9
Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 10
775.085, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 11
775.085 Evidencing prejudice while committing offense; 12
reclassification.— 13
(1)(a) The penalty for any felony or misdemeanor shall be 14
reclassified as provided in this subsection if the commission of 15
such felony or misdemeanor evidences prejudice based on the 16
race, color, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, 17
national origin, homeless status, or advanced age, or political 18
ideology of the victim: 19
1. A misdemeanor of the second degree is reclassified to a 20
misdemeanor of the first degree. 21
2. A misdemeanor of the first degree is reclassified to a 22
felony of the third degree. 23
3. A felony of the third degree is reclassified to a 24
felony of the second degree. 25

HB 143 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb143-00
Page 2 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

4. A felony of the second degree is reclassified to a 26
felony of the first degree. 27
5. A felony of the first degree is reclassified to a life 28
felony. 29
Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2026. 30