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CHARLOTTE – Legislation expanding the definition for victims of hate crimes will head to the president's desk after passing the Senate Thursday. The legislation includes crimes based on gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability.

Ian Palmquist, with Equality of North Carolina, says the legislation is long overdue.

“It allows the federal government to intervene and help local law enforcement investigate cases of bias-motivated violence, because right now, a lot of local departments don't have the will or resources to take on those case,” Palmquist said.

The new legislation was included in a defense authorization bill. President Barack Obama said in the past that he will sign it into law.

Kent Brintnall, an assistant professor at UNC Charlotte, said the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act is important, but there are still challenges ahead.

“It's difficult to prosecute hate crimes because of the evidence you need behind to show motive,” he said.

Many Republicans opposed the bill, arguing that the violent crimes are already illegal and that now prosecutors will be trying to figure out what the suspects were thinking at the time of the crime. Religious groups are concerned it could curtail freedom of speech.

The bill would provide financial aid to states that prosecute hate crimes.