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Georgia bill seeks to penalize Hinduphobia
The Senate Bill 375 proposes enhanced penalties for crimes committed against individuals based on their Hindu faith.
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Malvika Choudhary - Sat, 12, Apr 2025
- 14:36 EDT
- 228
Shawn Still/ CoHNA /
In a historic move, the US State of Georgia introduced legislation that officially recognizes Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bias in its penal code.
Senate Bill 375, introduced by State Senator Shawn Still, proposes enhanced penalties for crimes committed against individuals based on their Hindu faith. “This bill is the first of its kind in Georgia and possibly the entire country,” Senator Still said in a video statement. “If someone commits an illegal act against a Hindu on the basis of their faith, there are enhanced penalties for committing this crime.”
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Senator Still highlighted a troubling rise in anti-Hindu incidents nationwide, including the appearance of “dot buster” signs in Forsyth County in 2021 and a spate of temple vandalism across states like California and New York. “Freedom to practice one's faith is fundamental to being an American,” he said.
Thank you @SenShawnStill for your leadership in tackling the growing problem of Hinduphobia and ensuring freedom of religion for ALL your constitutents. We are proud to have partnered with you and your colleagues to build awareness on this critical issue. We urge everyone to… pic.twitter.com/7Aft8d05wO
— CoHNA (Coalition of Hindus of North America) (@CoHNAOfficial) April 11, 2025
SB 375 was developed in consultation with community organizations such as the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), Hindus of Georgia PAC, and other leaders who have long advocated for better protections for Hindu Americans.
It builds on precedent-setting work from April 2023, when Georgia became the first U.S. state to pass a County Resolution officially condemning Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry. That resolution also acknowledged and celebrated the contributions of the Hindu community in Georgia and beyond — setting the stage for further legal action, such as SB 375.
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
CoHNA praised the introduction of the bill , stating, “SB 375 builds upon the important work that we started in April 2023… Georgia becomes the first state to introduce such a bill, and if passed, will make history once again.”
Rajeev Menon, founder of the Hindus of Georgia PAC, lauded Senator Still's ongoing support. “His commitment to tackling Hinduphobia has been a beacon of hope and change for all Hindus across the U.S. We are extremely thankful to him for his relentless pursuit of justice and equality.”
Dhiru Shah, senior community leader and PAC board member, added, “Huge shout outs to Senator Shawn Still and to all the members and supporters of the Hindus of Georgia PAC whose tireless efforts over the years led to the development of this bill.”
The bill is expected to be taken up by the Senate Judiciary Committee — where Senator Still is a member — when the legislative session resumes in January 2026.
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