The battle regarding same sex marriage in the state of Minnesota may commence earlier than most expected.

While chatting with a local media outlet, Minnesota Senator Scott Dibble said he plans on introducing a bill to legalize gay marriage this week. Senator Dibble believes the legislation has the momentum to pass after voters struck down a constitutional amendment that would have strengthened the existing gay marriage ban.

“My sense, even from people in greater Minnesota, is that they are comfortable with this gay marriage law. These people know that the state has changed a lot, and it is continuing to evolve at a very rapid pace.”

Karen Clarke, a state representative, is also expected to introduce a bill in the House; neither Clarke nor Dibble expects a vote until after the state legislature passes budget bills.

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton says he will sign a bill legalizing gay marriage if one reaches his desk. During last Wednesday’s State of the State address, the governor claimed he aimed for Minnesota to be a state where no citizen is told it’s illegal to marry the person they love.

Advocacy groups, including Minnesota for Marriage, plan to hold several rallies at the State Capitol building in early March to bolster support of the prospective bills.

The same-sex marriage debate is particularly delicate in Minnesota as the issue proved to be the centerpiece for one of the most divisive campaigns in state history. During last year’s same-sex campaigns, both sides garnered enormous grassroots support and financial backing. Such groups are now using this support to turn a campaign of the people into a campaign to the state legislators.