now watching and waiting. They know the bill THEY passed could come back to their chamber with a few changes. The House has already amended the bill by strengthening protections for churches that rent their facilities to the public. If it passes that way... will the Senate accept it? KITV-4's Andrew Pereira continues our team coverage... Andrew? Paula, Yunji... It appears no one in the House or Senate wants to see competing versions of the bill go to conference committee. The process of crafting a same-sex marriage bill has seemed as long as the lines to testify before two House committees. Senators also believe it's been fair. SEN. BRICKWOOD GALUTERIA: "THEY'VE BEEN VERY DILIGENT IN BRINGING IN EVERYBODY, LETTING EVERYBODY BE HEARD. WE APPRECIATE THAT, THE SENATE APPRECIATES THAT." SEN. WILL ESPERO: "AT THE END OF THE DAY THE HOUSE DID PASS A MEASURE, AND IT DOES LOOKE LIKE SB1 AND HD1 DOES PRESERVE RELIGIOUS FREEDOMS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME PROVIDES EQUAL PROTECTION." The House Finance and Judiciary Committees amended the same-sex marriage bill Tuesday. The House bill says: "...a religious organization or nonprofit organization operated, supervised, or controlled by a religious organization shall not be required to provide goods, services, or its facilities or grounds for the solemnization or celebration of a marriage that is in violation of its religious beliefs or faith." The amended bill also protects churches from private lawsuits or government penalties. It resembles public accommodation protections in Connecticut. SEN. BRICKWOOD GALUTERIA: "CONNECTICUT MAY BE ABOUT AS FAR AS THE SENATE WOULD POSSIBLY GO. BUT, IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE WHAT'S SENT OVER TO US. SO, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT." SEN. WILL ESPERO: "THIS LOOKS LIKE IT STRIKES A VERY GOOD BALANCE IN TERMS OF WHAT BOTH SIDES HAVE BEEN REQUESTING, AND THE FEELING IS NOW THAT WE CERTAINLY WANT TO SEE SOMETHING PASSED." The head of the Hawaii Christian Association is satisfied with the protection churches are provided in the House version of the bill. But he's concerned about church schools being forced to accept children of activist same-sex couples. GARRET HASHIMOTO: "I WOULD THINK THE CHURCHES WOULD ACCEPT THEM, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES OF THE SCHOOL AND THE CHURCH AND THE SCHOOLS." If the Senate does not agree with the House version, the same-sex marriage bill could end up in conference committee where lawmakers attempt to find common ground. SEN. CLARENCE NISHIHARA: "I THINK IT'S PROBLEMATIC IF YOU HAVE TO GO TO CONFERENCE CAUSE NOW THE ISSUES COME UP AND THAT GOES FOR OTHER BILLS AS WELL. WHENEVER YOU HAVE A CONFERENCE, SOMETIMES THINGS FAIL RIGHT?" Today state Attorney General David Louie met with senators behind closed doors. Louie reportedly said the House version of the same-sex marriage bill IS acceptable under Hawaii's Constitution. Louie also said there hasn't been one lawsuit in Connecticut involving a church and public accommodation s. Back to