HONOLULU, Hawaii – The Hawaii House of Representatives voted to pass SB1 HD1, relating to equal rights, with amendments on second reading Wednesday. The measure was approved by a vote of
30 to 18, with three members excused.

SB1 HD1 recognizes marriages between individuals of the same gender. In addition, the measure extends to same-sex couples the same rights, benefits, protections, and responsibilities of marriage to which opposite-sex couples are presently entitled. The bill also expands a religious exemption.

According to the House, the draft “includes amendments, modeled after similar language in Connecticut law, significantly broadening exemptions for religious organizations and clergy performing solemnization.”

Those amendments were discussed during the Joint House Committee on judiciary and Finance, which approved the new draft of the bill after a historically long public hearing at the Capitol that lasted days.

The video above also shows what the Big Island representatives who sit on those two committees had to say during discussion on Tuesday.

The bill now heads to third reading and a possible final vote before the entire House on Friday, November, 8, 2013 at 10:00 A.M.