The amendment is designed to please New Hampshire Governor John Lynch, who said last Thursday that he will not sign the bill without "the strongest and clearest protections for religious institutions and associations, and for the individuals working with such institutions." His concern is that, without the amended language of the bill, churches and their staff may face lawsuits if they choose not to marry same-sex couples.

Governor Lynch also added that the gay marriage laws in Connecticut and Vermont do include the kind of specificity he’s looking for in terms of not violating churches’ religious principles.

The amendment will be attached to a separate, unrelated bill in order to avoid re-opening the gay marriage debate in New Hampshire. The state Senate and House will vote on it today before it reaches the governor’s desk for approval.

If Governor Lynch approves the amended bill, New Hampshire will become the sixth state in the U.S. to allow gay marriage.