From the Capital News Service:
By a 25-22 vote, the full Senate gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a bill allowing same-sex marriage in Maryland.
In a roughly two-hour debate, proponents successfully fought back five amendments, including one that would have allowed wedding service providers, including photographers, caterers and hotels, to refuse to serve gay couples.
Minority Leader Nancy Jacobs proposed another contentious amendment that would have allowed judges and clerks who personally object to same-sex unions to refuse to perform the marriages. Jacobs argued that even though those judges and clerks had taken an oath to uphold the law as public servants, same-sex marriage was not part of the law when they took that oath.
The amendment was unanimously voted down by voice vote.
The article goes on:
A final Senate vote is expected as early as Thursday. The House begins hearing testimony on a concurrent bill Friday and Gov. Martin O'Malley has said he would sign marriage equality legislation....
Maryland Senate leaders expect that Wednesday's 25-22 vote is a good indication of what to expect for the final vote.
"I think that was the major test vote," Raskin said.