US: Hawaii equal marriage bill passes second Senate reading
The equal marriage bill in the US state of Hawaii has passed its second reading, and will now advance to a final reading on Wednesday.
The special session was called by Governor Neil Abercrombie for Tuesday, where the bill passed its first and second reading.
The provision to allow same-sex couples to marry will go to its final floor vote on Wednesday morning, without being amended, and without attempts to wreck it.
Tuesday’s session was brief and followed a 12-hours of written and spoken testimony at committee stage on Monday.
If it passes its final reading in the Senate, scheduled for Wednesday morning, a House committee plans to consider the bill on Thursday.
Governor Neil Abercrombie released a draft for the bill in August. If Hawaii legalises same-sex marriage, it would become the 15th US state to do so.
The legislation is expected to easily pass in the Senate, and also appears to have enough support to pass in the House, reports Hawaii News Now, which does report that it may be tight.
