A new study from University of Hawai’i economics professor Sumner La Croix suggests that if Hawai’i lawmakers pass the proposed marriage equality legislation, it could provide a significant boost to the state’s economy. Same-sex couples that visit the state to marry, out-of-state guests for same-sex weddings, and same-sex couples who honeymoon there would all generate new tax revenues. The ultimate benefit could be somewhere between $46 million and $258 million over the 2014-2016 period. Conversely, marriage equality is not expected to burden either public or private employers with substantial increases in health insurance expenditures for employees.

Hawai’i's state Senate has only one Republican, and Sen. Sam Slom has conceded that proposed legislation to legalize same-sex marriage will likely pass:

SLOM: Same sex marriage probably will pass this year. You’ve got a preponderance of Democrats who support it in both Houses, you’ve got the Congressional delegation, you’ve got our Governor!

Despite his concession to inevitability, Slom will still oppose the bill:

SLOM: To me, I don’t care if gay people want to get married but to force other people to do things or to subsidize certain activities– that I oppose.

In other words, he believes that it’s perfectly fair to provide security and support for opposite-sex families but not for same-sex families. Fortunately, his position does not have the support to get anywhere.

Hearing dates have still not been set for the proposed bills.

A new poll from Equality Hawai’i shows that a majority of Hawai’i voters favor marriage equality, with 55 percent in support and only 37 percent opposed. Among voters under 35 years of age, support soars to 64-32, though even voters over the age of 50 support the change 53-38. Marriage equality bills were introduced in both chamber’s of Hawai’i's legislature last week.