Relating to a criminal offense committed against a person because of bias or prejudice on the basis of gender.

HB 4829 amends Texas criminal law to clarify definitions for bias-based offenses involving gender. It defines "gender" as actual or perceived gender-related characteristics regardless of sex assigned at birth, and specifies "sexual preference" as preference for heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality. The bill updates the legal framework for prosecuting crimes motivated by bias against gender identity or expression, but does not change penalty levels. This definition applies only to offenses committed on or after September 1, 2025, with prior offenses governed by existing law. The bill directly affects how courts interpret and handle gender-based hate crimes in Texas.