SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Senate President John Cullerton said he wants to pass same-sex marriage legislation on Valentine’s Day.
Cullerton told the Chicago Sun-Times that he’d like the state Senate to pass the measure out of committee next week and vote to approve it on Feb. 14.
Cullerton said he believes the legislation, Senate Bill 10, has the necessary 30 votes to pass and move to the House, clearing a major hurdle in making Illinois the 10th state to legalize same-sex marriages.
Earlier in week, Cullerton — speaking to the City Club of Chicago — said that the timing is right to legalize same-sex marriage in Illinois.
Never Miss a Beat
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights.
Sen. Heather Steans (D-Chicago), the bill’s Senate chief sponsor, and Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago), the bill’s chief House sponsor, have been working to tweak legislation that surfaced and stalled in the legislature’s lame duck session in January.
The new legislative session begins Feb. 5, and with significant Democratic majorities in both legislative chambers, proponents are confident the measure will pass.
Gov. Pat Quinn (D) supports the bill and has pledged to sign it if passed.
