Gov. signs transgender hate crimes bill into law

Crimes that target transgender person because of their sexual identify carry an extra penalty in Nevada.

Republican Gov. Brian Sandoval signed Senate Bill 139 into law Tuesday. The new law adds a person’s “gender identity or expression” to the list of motivating factors interpreted as a hate crime.

Defendants face the penalties for the actual crime committed, and up to an additional 20 years in prison for the motivation.

The bill breezed through the Senate with only one vote of opposition, and it passed the Assembly 30-11.

Democratic Sen. Pat Spearman of North Las Vegas was the primary sponsor of the legislation.