INDIANAPOLIS  — The Indiana Senate has passed a stripped down hate crimes bill and sent the measure to the House.

The vote was 39-10 Thursday in the The GOP-dominated Senate voted 39-10 Thursday on the amended legislation that removed a list of specifically protected characteristics including sexual orientation, gender identity and race.

Bill authors Republican Ron Alting of Lafayette and Democrat Greg Taylor of Indianapolis voted against their own bill after the change.

Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, civil rights activists and business interests all criticized the change.

Indiana is one of only a few states that currently have not hate crime legislation.

Arkansas, Georgia, South Carolina and Wyoming also have no hate crime laws.