With Gov. Eric Holcomb and the business community in support, a hate crimes bill passed out of the Senate Public Policy committee Monday morning, clearing its first legislative hurdle.

Senate Bill 12 would allow judges to consider a stricter sentence for someone who harms or intimidates a person or group based on characteristics such as race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Supporters, which included prominent Indiana sports and business leaders, far outnumbered those who testified against a comprehensive hate crimes bill — and collectively spoke more than three times as long during Monday's hearing.

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But it's not time for hate crime law advocates to celebrate yet.

In 2016, the Senate passed a hate crimes bill, only to see it die after it failed to receive a hearing in a House committee. And in 2017, Republican Sen. Sue Glick pulled a hate crimes bill she authored from consideration after other lawmakers presented amendments on the Senate floor that would have essentially gutted the measure.

Critics of hate crimes bill liken it to George Orwell's '1984'

During the Public Policy hearing, opponents testified that a hate crimes proposal would police thought, referencing George Orwell's "1984," or lead to certain protected classes.

"As we enter into the world of hate crimes, we enter into the world of Orwell," said Peter Scaer, representing Shepherds United — a coalition of pastors, priests and ministers. "Protected classes mean all are equal, but some are more equal than others."

Others such as Parvonay Stover, legislative affairs director for Attorney General Curtis Hill's office, argued a new law would be unnecessary and provide a "false message to Hoosiers that they will be more protected."

Business, sports leaders make the case for hate crimes bill

Meanwhile supporters, including transgender Hoosiers and representatives from the Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Cummins and Eli Lilly, argued Indiana needs to prove it's a welcoming state.

Indiana is one of five states without a hate crimes law, and community leaders argue it makes a difference when attracting job talent and tourism.

"We recruit people to be part of our teams, part of our business all over the world, and we have to be able to guarantee a workplace free of discrimination, a safe workplace and a workplace that is welcoming to all," said Jim Morris, vice chairman of Pacers Sports and Entertainment.

But more important than that, said Michael O'Connor, senior director of state government affairs for Eli Lilly, is that "this is the right and moral action to take for a state."

Indiana in 2017 recorded most hate crimes since 2010

In 2017, the state recorded 85 bias crimes, the highest number since 2010, and that may not be the complete picture.

An amendment during the committee hearing stripped political affiliation, status as a public safety officer and affiliation with a recognizable group from the list of characteristics in the bill, putting it more in line with previous proposals that have failed.

Senate Bill 12 passed out of committee with only one lawmaker — Sen. Phil Boots, R-Crawfordsville,— voting against the proposal. He said he would have supported the bill if the language just said crimes based on bias, instead of listing specific characteristics.

Lawmakers will now have a little over a week to pass the legislation out of the full Senate before the deadline.

Call IndyStar Statehouse reporter Kaitlin Lange at 317-432-9270. Follow her on Twitter: @kaitlin_lange.