BY VEENA RAO
Atlanta, GA, February 17, 2026: Georgia lawmakers are considering legislation that would formally recognize Hinduphobia as a documented form of discrimination under state law, a move supporters say would strengthen how anti-Hindu bias incidents are identified, recorded, and addressed.
Georgia Senate Bill 375, introduced by Senator Shawn Still with bipartisan co-sponsorship from Senators Emanuel Jones and Clint Dixon, would require certain state and local agencies to apply a definition of “hinduphobia” when enforcing existing laws and policies that prohibit discrimination based on protected characteristics such as religion, race, color, or national origin.
The measure does not create new criminal offenses or penalties. Instead, it is intended to provide guidance for government entities and fact-finders in identifying, documenting, and responding to incidents involving anti-Hindu bias within Georgia’s existing anti-discrimination and hate-crime framework.
SB 375 was introduced on April 4, 2025, the final day of the 2025 legislative session, and therefore did not advance before the General Assembly adjourned sine die. Under Georgia’s two-year legislative structure, however, bills introduced in the first year remain eligible for consideration in the second year. With the 2026 session now underway, the legislation, though not currently active, can be taken up by committees and lawmakers during the session.
Hindu advocacy organizations, including the Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA) and the Hindus of Georgia PAC, have also endorsed the bill.
Supporters of the bill argue that without formal recognition, incidents involving anti-Hindu bias are often recorded as routine property crimes or isolated acts, rather than as part of a broader pattern of hate. They cite past incidents in metro Atlanta, including the appearance of “dot buster” signs in a suburban neighborhood in 2021, which prompted community concern but were not formally categorized in official records as religiously motivated acts.
Pushpita Prasad, a board member of the CoHNA, said formal recognition is essential for identifying patterns of bias.
“Recognizing and naming a problem is the first step to solving it,” she said. “Crimes against Hindus often get categorized as petty crime or racism or even as pranks, when in fact they should be seen as part of a broader pattern of hate against a specific community. We saw this play out in Atlanta when, in Aug 2021, “dot buster” signs went up in a suburban neighborhood, and even though the community responded, the official records do not record the religious bigotry at play.
“With Hindus facing rising levels of online hate, temple vandalism, and real-Life violence SB 375 gives law enforcement the tools to recognize, track, and respond to these crimes,” she added.
Narender Reddy, a Republican activist and former state candidate, said the legislation is overdue.
“Though Hindus don’t have any representation in the Georgia Senate or House, I’m glad to see my friends Senator Shawn Still and Senator Clint Dixon took upon themselves to address the issue that is of great concern to Hindus,” Reddy said.
He added that Georgia Senate Bill 375 “is a necessary and timely step toward ensuring equal protection for all communities,” pointing to “incidents of vandalism and graffiti targeting Hindu temples, along with deeply offensive rhetoric directed at Hindu beliefs and deities.”
“Such actions not only hurt the Hindu community but also undermine the values of respect and religious freedom that define our state and nation,” he said.
Reddy emphasized that recognizing Hindu phobia within Georgia’s anti-discrimination framework “does not mean it is against any faith — it simply ensures that bias and hate directed at Hindus are acknowledged and addressed just like prejudice against any other faith group.” He noted that Georgia is home to “a vibrant and growing Hindu community that contributes greatly to our cultural and economic life” and said they “deserve the same clarity of protection under the law as everyone else.”
“Supporting SB 375 is about fairness, dignity, and standing firmly against hate in all its forms,” he added. “It is better now than later!”
Critics of the proposed legislation argue that existing civil rights laws already protect individuals from religious discrimination, including anti-Hindu bias, making additional statutory language unnecessary.
Dr. Amod Sureka, Chair of the Democratic Party of Georgia AAPI Caucus and Georgia lead for They See Blue, has raised concerns about the scope and consistency of such legislation.
“Although GA has passed a law defining antisemitism, there are no other laws singling out other specific religions. Existing civil rights laws already protect individuals from religious discrimination, including anti-Hindu bias, making additional statutory language unnecessary,” he said.
“Do these laws make any ethnic or religious group more safe? If we pass a law discussing Hindu hate, do we need similar laws for Muslim, Christian, and Buddhist hate?”
Some civil liberties advocates also express concern that defining “Hinduphobia” in law could blur the line between protecting a religious community and restricting criticism of political ideologies or public policies associated with religion. They warn that broadly worded protections could have unintended consequences for academic research, journalism, and public debate by creating uncertainty about what constitutes protected speech versus discrimination.
Rajeev Menon, Co-founder of the CoHNA, said critics may be misunderstanding the bill’s intent. “There seems to be a misunderstanding regarding that aspect of the bill. However, the concerns raised are unfounded. The bill focuses exclusively on discriminatory conduct and actionable harassment. This ensures the bill targets unlawful acts—such as vandalism or workplace discrimination—rather than protected speech or political criticism. It does not apply to academic discourse or criticism of international affairs. Our goal is to provide agencies with a clear tool to identify bias-motivated conduct, like other protected categories under GA law.”
If passed, SB 375 would make Georgia the first U.S. state to recognize Hinduphobia at the statutory level. Lawmakers are expected to debate the measure as the 2026 legislative session continues.
