Minnesota Senate Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill

The Minnesota Senate gave final approval Monday to a bill that will make the state the 12th in the nation to allow same-sex couples to marry and only the second in the Midwest, NBC reports. The majority-Democrat state Senate voted 37-30 to approve the bill, putting Minnesota on the verge of becoming the third state in May to approve gay marriage, after Rhode Island and Delaware. The state House approved the measure last week. Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton said he would sign the bill on Tuesday, and the law would take effect August 1.