The sticking point for the Republican opponents was the portion concerning sexual preference. The inclusion of gays and lesbians was a flash point that created heated debates. State Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano, tried to add an amendment that would have scratched the list of groups covered under the bill and instead target the motive of the crime. It was killed on a 12-17 vote. That's the key.
Criminals attack the people in the categories listed in the legislation.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, there were 331 hate crimes in Texas in 1997, the latest year for which figures are available. Those incidents involved 361 victims and 420 offenders. Some minor amendments to the Senate bill require that it be returned to the House, but it could be sent to Gov. Rick Perry as early as next week. Perry, a Republican, was involved in an earlier effort to delay the measure's move to the Senate floor for debate. Monday, he said he would decide whether to sign the bill when he received it.