Overview

• The House approved SB 13, the Political Terrorism Prevention Act, on a 105–6 vote after same-day introduction and committee action.
• The bill makes offenders ineligible for parole or early release, elevates politically motivated felonies by one class, and makes certain Class A offenses death eligible.
• A “Charlie Kirk” clause designates politically motivated murder as an aggravating factor in capital cases.
• Indictments must allege political motive, which prosecutors may prove through direct or circumstantial evidence such as statements, manifestos, affiliations, or targeting patterns.
• Republican sponsors describe the bill as safeguarding free speech, while a Democratic lawmaker questioned why recommendations from a prior state task force were not incorporated.