Rhode Island lawmakers approved a final version of a bill to legalize same-sex marriage Thursday and Gov. Lincoln Chafee (I) plans to sign it as early as Thursday evening, the Associated Press reported.
This will make Rhode Island the 10th state plus the District of Columbia, and the last state in New England, to legalize gay marriage. The bill will take effect on Aug. 1.
The House voted to legalize same-sex marriage in January followed by the Senate in April. But due to changes made to the bill in the Senate, the House had to vote a second time on Thursday, giving the legislation final passage by a vote of 56-15.
