Hate Crimes and Hate Bias - Definitions of Sexual Orientation and Hate Bias Incident

HB 1452 amends Maryland law to clarify definitions related to hate crimes and hate bias incidents. It updates the definition of "sexual orientation" to mean an individual's identity or others' perception of that identity regarding gender attraction, explicitly stating this differs from "gender identity." The bill also defines "hate bias incident" to include non-criminal acts like slurs, offensive displays, or online posts targeting protected classes (including sexual orientation, gender, disability, and homelessness). It requires the Department of State Police to collect, analyze, and report quarterly data on such incidents to the Commission on Civil Rights. This bill affects law enforcement agencies, the Department of State Police, and the Commission on Civil Rights by standardizing terminology and data collection processes.