H 4636
An Act to advance hate-crime protections for victims who are targeted due to their gender
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill amends Massachusetts law to specifically include ‘sex’ as a protected characteristic under hate-crime statutes. Currently, these laws primarily focus on characteristics like national origin and race. By adding ‘sex,’ the bill expands the scope of hate crimes to encompass individuals targeted due to their gender identity or expression, offering enhanced protections and potential legal recourse for victims.
Key provisions
- Adds ‘sex’ as a protected characteristic under Massachusetts hate-crime laws.
- This amendment clarifies that targeting someone based on their gender is a basis for hate crime prosecution.
- The change is made to Chapter 265 of the General Laws.
- The bill seeks to broaden the definition of ‘hate crime’ to include gender-based offenses.
Who is affected
- Victims of hate crimes
- Individuals targeted due to their gender identity or expression
- Law enforcement agencies
- The legal system
Notable changes
- Expands the definition of ‘hate crime’ to include gender as a protected characteristic.
- This builds upon existing protections related to race and national origin.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Joint Committee on the Judiciary
Cosponsor
Michelle M. DuBois
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Bill H.4636 194th (Current)
An Act to advance hate-crime protections for victims who are targeted due to their gender
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Bill Information
Bill Information
Sponsor: Joint Committee on the Judiciary Status: Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means
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Bill History Cosponsors Committee Vote Committee Summary
Bill History
Displaying 3 actions for Bill H.4636
| Date | Branch | Action |
| 10/23/2025 | House | Reported from the committee on The Judiciary |
| 10/23/2025 | House | New draft of H1675 |
| 10/23/2025 | House | Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means |
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