It was the most dramatic vote of last year's Legislature, and it resolved nothing: The impassioned debate at the Capitol over civil unions and gay marriage is back this week.

“;It is my understanding that it will be put on the Order of the Day (agenda) Thursday and put it up for a vote on Friday,”; said Sen. Brian Taniguchi, chairman of the Judiciary Committee.

The bill was stalled in his committee with three committee members in favor and three against the bill, when it was yanked onto the Senate floor last year.

It was high political drama because the bill to legalize civil unions between same-sex partners had already passed the House. Just 13 yes votes and the historic measure would go to Gov. Linda Lingle.

But the Senate blinked, amending the bill and promising to come back and try again.

That time is this session.

If anything, the year in limbo has made the bill's fate all the murkier.

The Senate amended the bill with the wording, “;It is not the Legislature's intent to revise the definition or eligibility requirements of marriage.”;

That means the Senate must vote one more time on the bill, then send it back to the House, which will either accept the changes or take it into conference with the Senate to come up with a compromise.

Because the bill was written to be passed last year, it has a 2009 date for when it goes into effect. The attorney general is raising questions about whether a bill with a defective date is valid, so supporters want the bill in the Senate to be amended a second time.

Taniguchi fears that another amendment would hurt the bill's chances of passage.

“;The people who want it voted (on) quickly are balking at amending it. If the amendment goes through, they may not vote for the bill at all,”; Taniguchi said.

Advocates such as Tambry Young, co-chairwoman of Equality Hawaii, says the amendment is just a technicality and that “;if you support it, you would support the technical changes to make it better.”;

But opponents, such as former Senate President Robert Bunda, remain against the bill.

“;It is totally about solemnizing civil unions, and I think what gay people are really seeking is same-sex marriage,”; Bunda said.

“;I hope we just defer the whole thing. We have more important issues, like the budget.”;