RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A bill to add sexual orientation to the definition of hate crimes is dead in Virginia.
The Republican-controlled Senate Courts of Justice Committee killed the measure Wednesday at the state Capitol on a 7-7 vote.
The bill was introduced by Sen. Barbara Favola, an Arlington County Democrat. It would have added sexual orientation and gender identification to an existing state law requiring that hate crimes be reported to the State Police. The current law is limited to race, religion and ethnic origin.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Attorney General Mark Herring, both Democrats, supported the measure.
Wednesday was the first day of the General Assembly's 45-day session.
