Florida is poised to repeal its nearly 40-year-old ban on gay adoption.
The Florida Senate on Wednesday gave tentative approval to a comprehensive bill that would create incentives to adopt children in state care.
That legislation (HB 7013) also strips language from state law that bans gay people from adopting children.
The law was found unconstitutional in 2010 but some legislators opposed removing it from law.
Sen. Kelli Stargel, a Lakeland Republican, tried unsuccessfully to keep the ban intact.
She said she was concerned that faith-based adoption agencies will leave the state if the law is changed.
But Sen. Don Gaetz, a Niceville Republican and bill sponsor, called the ban "meaningless."
The Florida House already voted to end the ban.
But the House is also moving a separate controversial bill that would let private agencies would cite religious or moral grounds to turn away gay couples seeking to adopt children.
