The creation of a civil rights division within the Office of the Connecticut Attorney General moved one step closer to reality this week when the state Legislature's Judiciary Committee approved the measure 24-15.

The state House and Senate are expected to sign off on the legislation, which Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont is expected to sign into law this session, which ends June 5.

More than 20 states, including New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts, have civil rights divisions within their attorney general's offices. Creating such an agency was a cornerstone of William Tong's campaign when he ran for attorney general last year. Now that he has won the job, Tong told the Connecticut Law Tribune Wednesday that such a division is needed more than ever.