jamie raskin

The Maryland Senate passed the marriage equality bill in a bipartisan 25-22 vote Thursday afternoon, moving one step closer to becoming the eighth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Gov. Martin O’Malley plans to sign the bill into law next week, according to a spokesperson.

Maryland senators voted on Monday to recommit the Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Act to committee, effectively killing any prospects for the bill to pass this session, which ends at midnight. Shortly before 1 p.m. on the last day of session, senators voted 27 to 20 to recommit the bill to the judicial proceedings committee, which had advanced the measure by a 7 to 4 vote on Saturday. The move left no time to resurrect the bill in 2011.

In the latest surprising twist along the long and winding path of the Maryland marriage equality bill, the house of delegates voted Friday afternoon to recommit the bill to committee, effectively ensuring there would be no further action on the bill until next year.  Following three hours of impassioned debate, house chairman Joseph Vallario proposed the motion to recommit, which delegates approved in a voice vote. The procedural maneuver sends the bill back to the judiciary committee, where it can be taken up again in 2012. The committee advanced the bill by a 12-10 vote last week.