Two sponsors of the bill that would legalize same-sex marriage in Illinois are expected to reintroduce the bill today as the new General Assembly takes office. The bill failed last week during the lame duck session.

Nonetheless, State Rep. Greg Harris and State Sen. Heather Steans are expected to the reintroduce the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act to the new state legislature as a means to continue the push for marriage equality in Illinois. 

"We expect the House and Senate to promptly pass the measure and remove the current barrier to the equal availability of civil marriage," said Bernard Cherkasov, CEO of Equality Illinois, in an email to supporters. "There will not be one day of the new legislature when we will not be hammering home the message that all couples in a lifelong, committed relationship deserve the rights, protections and responsibilities of marriage for themselves and their families."

Meanwhile another sponsor of the bill, State Rep. Kelly Cassidy has announced her engagement to her partner Kelley Quinn.