A Senate committee has endorsed legislation to expand the death penalty, but the true test will be whether it can get enough votes in the full Senate to override a veto by Gov. Tim Kaine.

The Senate Courts Committee on Wednesday advanced one bill to expand the death penalty to murder accomplices and another to allow it for those who kill a fire marshal or his assistant while on the job.

For the past two years Kaine has vetoed expansion of Virginia's "triggerman rule," which reserves capital punishment for the person who actually does the killing. While the House had enough votes to overturn the veto, the Senate came up short both years.

Virginia has executed more inmates than any state except Texas since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976.