KEENE, NH – A local New Hampshire House Representative has gotten his first bill one step closer to the Governor’s desk.

First-term State Representative Shaun Filiault, a Democrat of Keene, introduced House Bill 315, that would prohibit the “gay panic defense” in homicide cases in the state.

In an original version of the bill, it aimed at barring defendants from pleading temporary insanity because of an unwanted same-sex sexual advance. The bill has since been amended to remove a murder defense based on a defendant being provoked due to the person’s religion, race, creed, national origin, political beliefs, or affiliations.

The bill was unanimously recommended by the Criminal Justice and Public Safety committee in February, then unanimously passed in the House in March. The bill now faces scrutiny from the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Filiault introduced it on Tuesday.

If the bill passes the full senate, the bill will then land on the Governor’s desk for his signature. A vote by the full senate has yet to be scheduled.