Hawaii State House to consider Civil Unions bill

From the AP: Hawaii's House Judiciary Committee will consider a civil unions bill during a Tuesday public hearing, the Associated Press reports.

The bill being considered is almost identical to the one passed last year in Hawaii but died on the desk of then Governor Linda Lingle. The new Governor - Neil Abercrombie - has indicated that he would sign civil unions legislation.

Legislation is limited, to some degree at this time, as in 1998 an amendment to the state Constitution was passed limiting marriage to heterosexual couples. The bill currently being considered would give many but not all of the same rights of marriage to same sex couples.

A similar bill was passed by the State Senate of Hawaii last month.