Advocates feel more hopeful about the bill now than in past years because independent Gov. Lincoln Chafee supports the bill and out house speaker Gordon Fox is a cosponsor. The governor called the issue a matter "fundamental fairness" in a letter to the committee, the AP reports.

However, a more challenging landscape could await the bill in the senate.

"The bill must pass through committee before going to the House for approval. The major obstacle could be in the Senate, where Democratic Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed opposes same-sex marriage. The Senate is seen as having a more conservative membership than the House," the AP reports.