Same-Sex Marriage Bill Makes It Through Senate, House Committees

Same-sex marriage bills now head to the Senate and House floors.

By a vote of 10-7 on a party-line vote, the Civil Law Committee in the Minnesota House of Representatives voted Tuesday to pass legislation that would grant same-sex couples the freedom to marry as soon as August 1. This vote comes just hours after the Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee voted in favor of companion legislation.

House File 1054, authored by Representative Karen Clark and co-authored by 22 other members of the Minnesota House, would remove limitations on marriage for same-sex couples from Minnesota state law, while also protecting the religious freedoms of clergy and faith institutions to practice their religious beliefs free from government interference or persecution.

Earlier, the Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee approved Senate File 925, a bill extending marriage rights to same-sex couples, on a party-line 5-3 vote Tuesday afternoon.

To watch video of the committee's discussion and vote on the bill, click on the  video at the top of this post or watch it at the UpTake's Livestream webpage.

A highlight of the debate was extended back-and-forth between opponent Sen. Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove) and .

 District 52A Rep. Rick Hansen (DFL) has said he supports the measure.

"There’s a risk in every vote that we take," he said. "I think that members will vote their conscience; it may have a political consequence to them."

District 52B Rep. Joe Atkins (DFL) and District 52 Sen. James Metzen (DFL) have yet to weigh in, though both opposed the constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in the fall.