Same-sex Marriage Legislation
On February 22, 2007, Representative Greg Harris introduced the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Bill in the Illinois House of Representatives, which would have provided for same-sex marriage in the state. The bill died in committee. On January 14, 2009, Harris reintroduced the bill in the new session, but it once again died in committee. In October that year, Senator Heather Steans introduced the Equal Marriage Bill, the first same-sex marriage bill filed in the Senate, but it too died in committee.
In February 2012, Harris introduced his bill again. On December 13, Harris and Sen. Heather Steans announced plans for the General Assembly to consider the legislation before it dissolved early in January 2013.
On January 2, 2013, at the end of the 97th General Assembly, Steans re-introduced her bill as an amendment to an unrelated Senate bill. After a legislative misstep, she again introduced the legislation as an amendment, this time to a House bill. The Senate Executive Committee approved the amendment on January 3, 2013, sending it to the full Senate for a floor vote, but the bill fell with the beginning of the 98th General Assembly on January 9.
Steans and Harris filed new bills on January 9 and 10, respectively. Steans's bill was approved by the Senate Executive Committee on February 5, 2013. On 14 February 2013 the Senate approved the bill in a 34-21 vote. Governor Pat Quinn has said he will sign the bill into law if the Illinois House of Representatives also passes it. On February 26, 2013, the Illinois House Executive Committee approved the bill by a 6-5 vote. Harris, anticipating its defeat, did not call for a vote before the legislature adjourned on My 31, but instead extended the deadline for its approval until August 31, allowing for it to be considered by a special session of the legislature if Governor Quinn identifies it for consideration should he call the legislature into special session as expected.
Read more about this topic: Recognition Of Same-sex Unions In Illinois
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