ST. PAUL — The bill to make gay marriage legal in Minnesota is taking its last step in the legislative process. Go to austindailyherald.com for the latest information.

The democratically-controlled Senate is scheduled to take up the bill Monday at noon for a debate and vote. The chamber’s DFL leaders have said they expect it to pass. If it does, the bill goes to Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton who has promised to sign it.

The bill would make same-sex marriage available starting Aug. 1. Minnesota would become the 12th U.S. state to legalize gay marriage.

The democratically-controlled House passed the bill last Thursday by a 75-59 vote.

Rep. Jeanne Poppe, DFL-Austin, voted in favor of the bill. Sen. Dan Sparks, DFL-Austin, hasn’t said how he will vote.

In November, almost 57 percent of Mower County voters said “yes” to a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, which narrowly failed.