Nevada gay marriage resolution heads to Assembly floor
CARSON CITY — A constitutional amendment that would let voters decide whether to legalize gay marriage passed another hurdle Thursday when an Assembly panel voted in favor of Senate Joint Resolution 13.
The proposal now will go to the full Assembly for a vote, the final step in the 2013 session to move forward with a change to Nevada’s current prohibition on same-sex marriage.
It still has a long road to travel, however, before Nevada can join 12 other states allowing same-sex marriage.
The measure will have to go through the same approval process in the 2015 legislative session before going to voters in 2016.
The measure passed the state Senate already this session on a 12-9 vote with all Democrats and one Republican in support.
It is expected to win support in the Assembly as well.
It includes a provision to guarantee that religious organizations do not have to perform such unions.
The Assembly Legislative Operations and Elections Committee supported the amendment with three Republican lawmakers voting no. Those in opposition were Minority Leader Pat Hickey of Reno, Wes Duncan of Las Vegas and James Oscarson of Pahrump.
Contact Capital Bureau reporter Sean Whaley at swhaley@reviewjournal.com or 775-687-3901.
