ANNAPOLIS, Md.
Maryland has become the first state in the nation to protect homeless people under a hate-crimes law.
Governor Martin O'Malley signed a bill today that explicitly outlaws targeting people because they are homeless.
Ohio is one of the states considering similar measures, and legislation has been introduced in Congress.
The bill in Maryland was sponsored by a conservative state senator who opposed extending hate-crime protections to gays and lesbians. Since then, Republican Senator Alex Mooney has lobbied to expand the hate-crimes law to include other groups.
Mooney says the homeless are particularly vulnerable. Defining such attacks as hate crimes will allow prosecutors to seek tougher penalties.
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