- By Shivangi Sharma
- Sat, 12 Apr 2025 06:29 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a historic move, Georgia has become the first US state to introduce a bill specifically targeting Hinduphobia, signaling growing recognition of discrimination faced by the Hindu community in the United States. The proposed legislation aims to formally recognise acts of bias and hate against Hindus and incorporate such incidents into Georgia’s legal framework.
The bill, known as Senate Bill 375 (SB 375), was introduced with bipartisan support, reflecting a rare show of unity on the issue of religious discrimination. Republican Senators Shawn Still and Clint Dixon, along with Democratic Senators Jason Esteves and Emanuel D. Jones, have jointly sponsored the bill.
If enacted, the bill would update Georgia’s penal code and mandate law enforcement agencies to account for Hinduphobia when documenting discrimination cases. This would not only help in identifying patterns of hate but also enable more effective legal action and protections for victims.
Growing Concerns About Hindu Hate
The bill comes amid increasing reports of anti-Hindu sentiment and attacks across the United States. Advocacy group Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), which has worked closely with lawmakers on the legislation, welcomed the move and emphasized the growing urgency to address Hinduphobia.
“Georgia becomes the first state in introducing such a bill, and if passed, will make history once again,” CoHNA said on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). The organisation pledged to advocate for the bill’s passage once the Georgia legislative session reopens.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: The State of Georgia has introduced SB 375, which formally updates the state's penal code to recognize Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu prejudice, and enables law enforcement and other agencies to consider Hinduphobia while cataloging such discrimination and taking… pic.twitter.com/0TKGgtGb8x
— CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) (@CoHNAOfficial) April 10, 2025
Building On Prior Progress
The proposed bill builds upon a 2023 resolution passed by the Georgia General Assembly that formally condemned Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry. That resolution, passed in April 2023, laid the groundwork for deeper legislative action to protect the Hindu community from hate crimes and discrimination.
“We are proud to work closely with Senator Shawn Still on this important bill and thank him, along with Senator Emanuel D. Jones, Senator Jason Esteves, and Senator Clint Dixon, for supporting the needs of the Hindu community,” CoHNA stated.
