SACRAMENTO – The State Senate today passed legislation that will bar the State of California from entering into contracts in excess of $100,000 with businesses and other entities that deny equal benefits to the same-sex spouses of their employees.

The Equal Benefits bill (SB 117), authored by Sen. Christine Kehoe (D-San Diego) and sponsored by Equality California, passed in a 21-15 vote.

The bill now moves to the State Assembly.