The state House Judiciary Committee approved a bill tonight that would legalize civil unions, sending the measure to the full House for a vote.

The vote was 12-0, with four lawmakers excused.

The bill would give same-sex couples who enter into civil unions the same rights under state law as heterosexual couples. Civil unions are not the same as marriage, however, since the partnerships are not recognized as marriage under federal law.

Lawmakers agreed to amend the bill to prevent partners who have entered into reciprocal beneficiaries under state law from joining in civil unions.

"The battle is far from over, of course, but this is a major and significant first step," said state House Majority Leader Blake Oshiro, D-33rd ('Aiea, Halawa Valley, 'Aiea Heights), the bill's sponsor.

Oshiro believes there are enough votes for civil unions in the House, but the test could come in the state Senate, where the Senate Judiciary and Government Operations Committee is divided.

The committee vote yesterday came after four hours of public testimony in which supporters of the bill substantially outnumbered opponents, most of whom objected to the bill on religious grounds. After the vote, the audience in the hearing room erupted in cheers and many gave the lawmakers a standing ovation.

State Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu, D-41st (Waipahu, Village Park, Waikele), the committee's chairman, described it as a historic moment. "This is the last of the major equal rights issues still on the table," he said.