A Senate committee has approved HJR-3, the proposed constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage.
The debate surrounding the measure shifted during Monday’s hearing, focusing more on the restoration of the amendment’s controversial second sentence.
The House removed HJR-3’s second sentence, which bans civil unions, after concerns were raised it could prohibit domestic partnership benefits. Proponents of the measure, including Governor Mike Pence, are calling on the Senate to reinsert that language.
The committee approved the measure eight to four. It now heads to the floor, where the full Senate could consider reinserting the second sentence as early as Thursday.