Indiana House Amends HJR 3
Indianapolis—Indiana’s House of Representatives amended House Joint Resolution 3 on Jan. 27, then passed the amended resolution Jan. 28 on Third Reading. It then went to the Senate.
Rep. Randy Truitt (R-West Lafayette) offered an amendment to HJR 3 to remove language that would prohibit Indiana from granting same-sex couples anything that was “identical or substantially similar to that of marriage.”
The debate on HJR 3 has focused on the impact that language would have on businesses and same-sex couples. Some argue it could prevent employers from granting domestic-partner benefits.
Indiana law defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman. HJR 3 author Rep. Eric Turner, R-Cicero, said that without a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex unions, a challenge to Indiana’s law could force the state to recognized same-sex marriage.
The House approved the amendment by a 52-43 vote. HJR 3 then passed Third Reading by a 57-40 vote. Senators have the options of returning the stricken language to HJR 3; of considering and acting on it as amended by the House; or of not considering it at all.
To change Indiana’s Constitution, an identical proposal must be passed by two separately elected General Assemblies – then approved by a majority of Hoosier voters on a referendum.
