Same-sex marriage bill to receive another committee hearing

The Minnesota House has scheduled another committee hearing for a bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Minnesota.

The House Ways and Means Committee has scheduled a Monday hearing for the bill after a fiscal analysis found legalizing same-sex marriage would cost the state money.

Minnesota Management and Budget predicts that legalizing same-sex marriage would result in 114 more people enrolling for state benefits for their married partners. Fiscal agents estimate the added benefits would cost $688,378 a year.

The fiscal note also projected that 5,186 same-sex couples would get married over the next two years if same-sex marriage were legalized in Minnesota on August 1. The estimate found that couples paying the $90 marriage licenses would generate roughly $190,135 to the state's general fund and another $146,930 to other special revenue funds.

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Minnesota Management and Budget officials say, however, that the number of license applications will likely scale back over time.

"In the first year of enactment, it is expected that a larger number of same-sex couples will be married, since a first opportunity has been provided, with declining numbers in following years,"analyst Dennis Munkwitz wrote.

The analysis also predicted 86 couples will file for divorce by 2015.

Supporters and opponents of the legislation have been ramping out their efforts as the Legislature enters the final stretch of the session. A vote on the bill could come at any time in the House or the Senate.

Here's the fiscal note:

SF.925.Fiscal.note.5.4