HB 1124: State government; require certain agencies to consider definition of hinduphobia to apply to laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin

Georgia law currently prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, or national origin, and it allows judges to impose enhanced penalties for hate crimes under O.C.G.A. § 17-10-17. This bill adds a new Code section defining 'hinduphobia' as a set of antagonistic, destructive, and derogatory attitudes and behaviors toward Hinduism, and requires any state or local agency enforcing discrimination laws to consider that definition. The bill also directs the state to consider the definition of hinduphobia when deciding whether to seek Georgia's hate crime penalty enhancement in a criminal case. It includes limits stating the law cannot be used to restrict First Amendment rights, foreign policy speech, or conflict with other discrimination laws, and it creates no new private right to sue. If any part of the Act is struck down as unconstitutional, the whole Act would automatically repeal. It would take effect upon the Governor's signature or becoming law without signature.

• Creates a new Georgia Code section (50-1-12.1) defining 'hinduphobia' as antagonistic, destructive, and derogatory attitudes and behaviors toward Hinduism.
• Requires any state or local agency enforcing discrimination laws based on race, color, religion, or national origin to consider this definition in enforcement.
• Directs the state to consider the definition of hinduphobia when deciding whether to seek Georgia's hate crime penalty enhancement (O.C.G.A. § 17-10-17) in a case.
• States the law cannot be used to limit First Amendment rights, foreign policy or international affairs speech, or conflict with other discrimination laws.
• Specifies the law creates no new right, benefit, or lawsuit that a person could bring against the state or an agency.
• Makes the entire Act automatically repeal if any part of it is found unconstitutional, a nonseverability clause.

State and local government agencies that enforce anti-discrimination laws, prosecutors and courts handling hate crime penalty decisions, and members of Georgia's Hindu community whose experiences of discrimination the definition is meant to capture.

If enacted, agencies investigating discrimination complaints and prosecutors weighing hate crime penalty enhancements would have to factor in a specific definition of hinduphobia, which could shape how such cases are evaluated, though the bill creates no new lawsuit rights for individuals to enforce it themselves.

• Section 1 adds new Code Section 50-1-12.1 to Title 50, defining 'agency' broadly to include all state and local government bodies and defining 'hinduphobia'.
• Subsection (b) requires agencies enforcing discrimination laws on race, color, religion, or national origin to consider the hinduphobia definition.
• Subsection (c) requires the state to consider the definition when deciding whether to seek the hate crime penalty enhancement under O.C.G.A. § 17-10-17.
• Subsections (d) through (f) limit the law so it cannot infringe on First Amendment rights, foreign policy speech, or other discrimination laws, and cannot expand or limit any agency's existing authority.
• Subsection (g) states the section creates no enforceable right, benefit, or cause of action against the state or an agency.
• Section 2 makes the entire Act nonseverable, so a court striking down any part repeals the whole Act.
• Section 3 sets the effective date as the date of the Governor's approval or the date the bill becomes law without signature.

1. 2026-02-04House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-02-03House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-02-02House Hopper (House)

• Esther Panitch (D, HD-051)Primary sponsor
• Stacey Evans (D, HD-057)

• hinduphobia
• discrimination law
• hate crime penalties
• religious discrimination
• state agency enforcement