Eliminating criminal defenses of adequate provocation, self-defense, or not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect if the claim is based on the victim's gender identity or sexual orientation

What it would have done

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Current law provides specific defenses to criminal liability. For instance, a charge of first-degree intentional homicide may be mitigated to second-degree intentional homicide if, at the time of committing the crime, the defendant reasonably believes the victim has done something that adequately provokes the defendant to lack self-control completely. Another defense is the privilege of self-defense under which a person may threaten or intentionally use force against another for the purpose of preventing or terminating what the person reasonably believes to be an unlawful interference with his or her person by the other person.

Under this bill, a defendant may not assert adequate provocation or self-defense as a defense if the criminal action in question resulted from the discovery of, knowledge about, or potential disclosure of the victim's gender identity or expression or sexual orientation, including under circumstances in which the victim made a romantic or sexual advance without use or threat of force or violence toward the defendant or in which the victim dated or had a romantic or sexual relationship with the defendant.

Who's behind it

7 senators are its authors⁠. All 7 are Democrats.

25 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.