Washington (CNN) Virginia's General Assembly on Wednesday approved resolutions to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, a century-long dream of progressives and feminists that would ban discrimination on the basis of sex and guarantee equality for women under the Constitution.

Both chambers are controlled by Democrats, who first passed it in the state's House of Delegates by a 59-41 vote before the state Senate approved its companion resolution, 28-12. Seven Republican senators, including the Senate minority leader, joined with Democrats to approve the resolution.

The resolutions need to be formally approved by each chamber before Virginia officially becomes the 38th state to ratify the amendment, though the national effort is already facing legal challenges

With enough support, the Senate could take up the House resolution for a vote in the full chamber as early as Monday, said Senate Clerk Susan Clarke Schaar.

A special assistant to the Virginia House clerk told CNN that the Senate's resolution could be taken up in the House as early as Monday.

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