Marriage bills considered

PROVIDENCE, RI (WPRI) - 2 very different bills on the issue of same-sex marriage are up for debate at the state house. The Senate Judiciary Committee took up both Thursday night.

An overflow crowd attended last night's hearing, which lasted over 5 hours. The committee is considering 2 seperate marriage bills; one would expand the definition of marriage in Rhode Island to include same-sex couples. The other would make gay marriage and unions illegal.

Lawmakers have considered same-sex marriage bills every year since 1997. However, none have made it past committee.