Humza Yousaf is pushing ahead with legislation to update existing laws on disability, race, religion, sexual orientation and transgender identity.
The plan has been one of the most heavily challenged in the history of Holyrood, attracting more than 2000 responses during scrutiny.
Yousaf got it over the first major hurdle after removing or altering some of the most contentious parts. The Hate Crime Bill aims to create laws on "stirring up hatred" against any protected group, one of the most argued over sections.
Yousaf insisted there would be a strengthening of the protection for freedom of expression provisions in the legislation.He will propose new limits on police powers of search and entry.
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