A California bill introduced last week seeks to reduce political violence by adding political affiliation to the state’s protected characteristics in order to classify it as a hate crime.

The bill, AB 1535, as first reported by the Orange County Register, is called the Hortman-Kirk Political Violence Prevention Act, and is named after former Minnesota Democratic Rep. Melissa Hortman and Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who were both murdered last year.

Under existing California law, hate crimes are criminal acts committed because of a victim’s actual or perceived characteristics such as race, religion, disability or sexual orientation.

AB 1535 would expand that definition to include political affiliation, defined as “the state of belonging to a political party, the endorsement of a political party or a platform of a political party, or the endorsement of a politician or a platform of a politician.”

WHY POLITICAL ASSASSINATION CASES AREN’T AUTOMATICALLY DEATH PENALTY ELIGIBLE

State Assemblymember Laurie Davies, a Republican from Laguna Niguel, introduced the bill, saying it is intended to promote a culture in which free speech is valued and protected.

“Our nation was founded on political freedoms. However, political violence is detrimental to our democracy and shouldn’t be tolerated,” Davies said. “Leaders are required to cool the temperature, not fan the flames. AB 1535 isn’t just about protecting Californians; it’s about a cultural reset. It’s a commitment to the idea that every Californian has the right to their political views without fear of being targeted by those who see them as an enemy rather than a neighbor.” 

Under current state law, political affiliation is already a protected category in civil contexts such as employment or housing, but not within criminal hate crime statutes, according to Davies. By expanding the scope of an existing crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

NEARLY 40% OF YOUNG AMERICANS SAY POLITICAL VIOLENCE CAN BE JUSTIFIED IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS

ANTI-ICE AGITATORS SWARM VEHICLE OF CONSERVATIVE INFLUENCER NICK SORTOR

“This measure ensures that our justice system recognizes political violence for exactly what it is: a hate-motivated crime,” she said.

Hortman and her husband were fatally shot in a targeted attack at their home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, on June 14, 2025.

Kirk was gunned down while speaking at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025, at a speaking event for Turning Point.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

A similar bill adding political affiliation as a protected characteristic in hate crime law was introduced in Washington in December.

Some law enforcement experts have warned that political violence is on the rise, citing high-profile attacks, including the assassination of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson and two assassination attempts against now-President Donald Trump in 2024.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — The San Francisco 49ers are advancing to the NFC divisional, but without tight end George Kittle who suffered a torn Achilles during Sunday’s game against the Eagles.

The injury ended Kittle’s season. The recovery will be painful and extensive, something that, according to medical experts, could take anywhere between nine to 12 months before Kittle gets back on the field.

On the field, fans knew something was wrong, and medical experts watched and feared it was his Achilles.

“When you see that they slow-mo on his leg and you see his calf muscle go up and he grabs his leg and see him hit the ground – a lot of the time players know what that is,” said Dr. Nirav Pandya, UCSF Orthopedic surgeon.

MORE: Bay Area doctor shoots down ‘baseless’ claim that 49ers injuries are caused by EMF from substation

Dr. Pandya specializes in sports medicine. He broke down what Kittle’s medical team is gearing him up for.

“It’s a very painful surgery early on – you are basically going on your ankle, you are sewing these tendons together, immobilizing them, and then you are working through this period of getting that mobility back,” said Dr. Pandya.

According to Nature Review’s research, 30% of sports injuries are Achilles tendon injuries. Dr. Pandya said recovery could be impacted by techniques.

“There are some newer techniques that players like Aaron Rogers who got back in six months, and what is happening in these surgeries is that you are using stronger devices, you are allowing rehab a lot earlier. So, a lot of it will be based on what the surgeon does that he goes, and sees and sometimes you can push that timeline a little bit earlier but for players like him who plays tight end, and sometimes wide receiver, it may take longer because he is stressing that repair a lot more than let’s say a quarterback,” said Dr. Pandya.

Immediately after surgery, Dr. Pandya said patients like Kittle will be placed into physical therapy.

“They will be doing a lot of manual work early on to facilitate the recovering of the tissues and then loading him in the gym,” said Julian Cisneros, physical therapist and owner of Peak Physio.

MORE: Brock Purdy, 49ers eliminate defending Super Bowl champion Eagles with 23-19 win in wild-card game

Cisneros treats these types of injuries and said it will be almost a year of PT and will happen in phases, with the first one being light resistance.

“It would be light resistance, just trying to go through a full range of motion nice and controlled, slow and steady, making sure his Achilles tolerate that,” said Cisneros.

“Standing under his own body weight on a flat-level surface and raising up those heels nice and high. This would be more load, and once he completes that, we would start elevating him so he can really lengthen that Achilles again and we will give him weights to hold,” said Cisneros. “And then we can start incorporating more plyometric movements with balancing here, and then we will get him on the track or on the field and going through sprints, jumping progressions.”

One of the last phases is to “start incorporating more plyometric movements with balancing,” said Cisneros.

Dr. Pandya is projecting Kittle could be back during the early part of next season, anywhere between September and October.

The good news is that Dr. Pandya says it is very unlikely after full recovery Kittle will re-injure his Achilles.