Maine lawmakers on Wednesday approved the creation of a $1.5 million fund meant to help protect houses of worship and other nonprofits against hate crimes and terrorist attacks.

The proposal from Rep. Michael Brennan, D-Portland, would create the Maine Nonprofit Security Grant Program to support nonprofits that demonstrate they are at “high risk of a hate crime or terror attack.” Organizations could use the awarded money to improve building security, hire security personnel or develop security plans and protocols, per the measure.

A similar federal security grant program falls under the Department of Homeland Security, but Democratic lawmakers said its funding is uncertain as Trump seeks to slash domestic spending. The federal funds have also been held up during the impasse in Congress over DHS funding and Immigration and Customs Enforcement reforms.

The state Senate passed the bill along party lines Wednesday after the House did the same Tuesday, with Sen. Rick Bennett, I-Oxford, joining Democrats in supporting it.

Democratic supporters mentioned feelings of fear among Jewish and Muslim constituents in the wake of violence around the world at places of worship. Brennan noted that Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Buddhist constituents expressed increased fear and anxiety about being targeted in their places of worship during a January public hearing on the proposal.

“For two hours, I listened to them talk about people … that were afraid to go to church, afraid to go to temple, afraid to go to synagogue, because they feared a hate crime or an assault,” Brennan said Tuesday.

Republican opponents said the grant program is too broad and would put taxpayers on the hook for security for private groups. The measure still faces the challenge of getting funded in the state budget as the Legislature seeks to conclude its business by mid-April. Lawmakers are working to send Gov. Janet Mills the final supplemental budget of her tenure, as the Democrat is termed out of office this year and running for the U.S. Senate.

Brennan supported an amendment to lower the fund from $2 million to $1.5 million, and to task the Maine Emergency Management Agency with overseeing it.

Sen. Anne Carney, D-Cape Elizabeth, said Wednesday the federal funding is meant mostly for “hardening” buildings, while the state-funded grant program could help nonprofits with outdoor events and additional needs.

Sen. David Haggan, R-Hampden, said organizations deserve safety, but pointed to the existing federal funds and argued the state-level program would come “without guardrails.”

Zach Schwartz, with the Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine, testified in support of the bill during the January public hearing, and said more than 20 organizations representing Jewish and Muslim institutions — along with a historically Black church and Buddhist temple — had signed an open letter backing the legislation. Nearly 20 states have created similar security funds.

The proposal is not political, Schwartz argued, and he cited death threats that Jewish institutions in Maine received last year.

“While there is strong Democrat support for this bill, the horrific murder of Charlie Kirk last year shows us that organizations and people with conservative values are also being targeted,” Schwartz said. “This is a bill for all of us.”