The New Hampshire Senate approved revisions to the proposed same-sex marriage bill on Wednesday morning, moving it forward to a House of Representatives vote, which passed this afternoon 198-176.

Lawmakers in New Hampshire have spent months working on the bill, and gay-rights supporters hoped the newest revisions were enough to ensure it became law. The changes expanded the emphasis that in legalizing gay marriage, there will not be any impingement on the religious freedom of those who oppose, or do not believe in, same sex marriage by the state. 

When it originally passed, the bill exempted clergy members from being obligated to perform same-sex weddings. Gov. John Lynch requested that the Legislature make amendments to the bill clarifying that any religious opponents to same-sex marriage would not have any obligation to preform or participate in ceremonies celebrating it. However, on May 20th, the House rejected that language by a slim margin, and legislative leaders chose a conference committee for a negotiation of more palatable phrasing.

One sentence that the changes include states, “Each religious organization, association, or society has exclusive control over its own religious doctrine, policy, teachings and beliefs regarding who may marry within their faith."

Mr. Lynch, a Democrat, has indicated his approval of the newest set of revisions. If he signs the bill and makes it law, now that it passed both the Senate and House vote, New Hampshire will be the fifth state in New England allowing same-sex marriage, and the sixth in the nation.