Same-Sex Marriage Bill Moves to House

A bill legalizing same-sex marriages moves to the House of Delegates after the full state Senate passed the bill Thursday evening.

The final 25-21 vote in the Senate came after nearly two days of polite debate.

Senators from Baltimore County voted largely along party lines with Democratic Sens. and keeping their promise to vote in favor of the bill.

Both represent districts that are Democratic by registration but are seen as more conservative in terms of voting patterns.

"For me, it wasn't even an issue," said Sen. Bobby Zirkin, who voted in favor of the bill. "It's an issue whose time has come."

Sen. J.B. Jennings said he voted "no" to protect marriage.

"For me, it was about protecting the sanctity of marriage," Jennings said. "I felt we should have moved to pass a civil union bill."

County Senators votes on Senate Bill 116

The bill now moves to the House of Delegates.

The House is expected to hold hearings on House versions of the same-sex marriage bill Friday afternoon. Bills seeking to define marriage in the state constitution as being between a man and a woman are also scheduled to have a hearing Friday.

Gov. Martin O'Malley has indicated that he would sign a same-sex marriage bill should it reach his desk.

Proponents and opponents in the legislature anticipate that if the bill becomes law, it will be placed before voters in 2012 as a referendum issue. Opponents would need to collect nearly 56,000 votes.