INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Indiana lawmakers have effectively killed a proposed constitutional ban on gay marriage for this year.

The state Senate advanced a House version of a proposed amendment banning gay marriage Thursday without debate. But because the House stripped out a sentence barring civil unions last month, the amendment process must start fresh.

Indiana law requires proposed constitutional amendments to pass two consecutive session of the Legislature with the same language before being put to voters. The gay marriage ban passed in 2011 with the civil unions language included.

Supporters of the ban argued that a public vote was needed in November to protect the existing definition marriage from possible court challenges. Opponents said it wasn't necessary because state law already defines marriage as between a man and a woman.