Senators began chipping away at anti-illegal immigrant legislation passed in the House, watering down or killing bills that would require proof if citizenship for changing your name or applying for a marriage license.

The Senate Courts of Justice Committee voted eight-seven Monday in favor of Democratic Delegate Lynwood Lewis' bill to require proof that you live Virginia in order to change your name. The legislation originally would have required proof of citizenship.

Republican Delegate Ed Scott's measure to put in Virginia law a federal statute requiring court clerks to record the Social Security numbers of those applying for a marriage license failed on a seven-eight vote.

Republicans argued Virginia would be sending a message that it doesn't follow federal law, but Democrats said it wasn't necessary to put it in state law.