LANSING –
In a near party-line vote, the Democratic-controlled Michigan House earlier on Wednesday approved two measures to address bias crimes – commonly referred to as hate crimes. The vote for both bills was 66 votes in favor, with 43 opposed.
The bill now moves to the Republican-controlled Senate. Similar legislation was moved on an 82-18 vote in the House last year, but died in the Senate without a hearing.
The legislation has faced stiff opposition from the American Family Association of Michigan, which claimed the bill would interfere with free speech rights and religious freedom of Michigan residents.
But the legislation was supported by the Michigan Prosecutors Association, the Michigan Sheriff Association, the Michigan Association of Chiefs of Police, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and a host of other groups.
Anti-bias crimes legislation OK'd by state House lawmakers
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