Hawaii took another crucial step towards equality today as the Judiciary Committee of the Hawaii House of Representatives amended and then passed SB 232, a civil unions bill that provides equal rights and responsibilities of married couples in Hawaii, by a 11-2 vote after hearing oral testimony Tuesday, February 8.
SB 232 is identical to HB 444, the civil unions bill from last year’s legislative session, except for some technical corrections. That bill passed Hawaii’s House and Senate, with near super majorities, before Gov. Linda Lingle vetoed it. No override vote was held.
The legislation now will now be heard by the full Hawaii’s House of Representatives, which must approve the bill twice before it goes back to the Senate for approval on the amendments.
This information was provided by Equality Hawaii. Their mission is d to securing equality for all Hawaii’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and their families. For more information, go to http://www.equalityhawaii.org.