Overview

• The House approved the bill 105-6, according to Just The News, following floor debate that framed the measure as a defense of free expression.
• The legislation defines politically motivated offenses broadly, covering crimes targeting a person’s beliefs, affiliations, candidacy, voting history, or public political expression.
• Sentencing provisions elevate politically motivated felonies by one class, make offenders ineligible for parole or early release, and create a structured sentencing aggravator.
• A “Charlie Kirk” clause allows politically motivated murder to be treated as an aggravating factor in death penalty proceedings, with certain Class A felonies becoming capital-eligible.
• Prosecutors must allege political motivation as a special factor and may prove it with direct or circumstantial evidence, while the attorney general can be notified and asked to appoint a special prosecutor.