North Dakota Mulls Changes To Reflect Gay Marriage Ruling

A North Dakota Senate committee is considering a measure that would update state law to reflect the U.S. Supreme Court's decision that declared same-sex couples have the right to marry.

The measure would update dozens of references such as "husband and wife" to gender-neutral terms.

The measure got its first hearing Wednesday in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The panel will decide later whether to endorse the proposal.

The committee's chairman, Sen. Kelly Armstrong, says he's received more than 300 emails from both supporters and opponents of the measure. Armstrong says some want to keep references of husband and wife on the books as a protest to the high court ruling.

Jen Dunn of Bismarck says approving the measure will make state law consistent with the Supreme Court ruling.