Vermont Senate gives final OK to bill allowing gays to marry

MONTPELIER, Vt. -- The Vermont Senate has given its final stamp of approval to a bill that would allow same-sex couples to marry in the state.

Lawmakers passed the measure Tuesday in voice vote with no debate. It passed an earlier test Monday in a 26-4 vote.

Now the issue moves to the House, where the a committee has scheduled a week's worth of testimony on the bill. The House is likely will act on it by April 3, Speaker Shap Smith said.

The measure would replace Vermont's first-in-the-nation civil unions law with one that allows marriage of same-sex partners beginning in September.

Gov. Jim Douglas has said he opposes the measure but has declined to say whether he'll veto it if it gets to his desk.

If approved, Vermont would join Massachusetts and Connecticut as the only U.S. states that allow gays and lesbians to marry.