On Dec. 20, New Jersey lawmakers took steps to protect marriage equality, with both houses of the state legislature voting to enshrine the right to same-sex marriage into state law, PhillyVoice.com reported.
Sponsors of the legislation say codifying same-sex marriage in New Jersey is important, especially with the U.S. Supreme Court weighing its precedents on abortion rights, which could signal a willingness to reconsider other landmark rulings, like marriage equality.
If same-sex marriage is enshrined in New Jersey law, any rulings that overturn the 2015 landmark decision on Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized marriage equality nationally, would not impact the state.
The legislation to codify same-sex marriage passed the state Assembly by a 53-10 vote and the state Senate by a 35-4 vote. Each had bipartisan support, and Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to sign the bill into law.
