Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie reads a quote from the Dalai Lama as he gives testimony in support of same sex marriage during a Senate hearing at the Hawaii State Capital in Honolulu, Monday. HUGH GENTRY/Reuters

Gov. Neil Abercrombie told Al Jazeera Monday that he expects Hawaii's legislature will pass a bill legalizing gay marriage "within a week or so," in a state that just two decades ago prompted an international dialogue on marriage equality.

The Democrat was interviewed after a special session of his state legislature in Honolulu, which he called to debate the passage of state Senate Bill 1.

The state's House of Representatives plans to pass the bill Thursday, if it successfully passes through the Senate, Reuters reported. Democrats make up the majority in both chambers.

"The bill primarily is in response to the recent Supreme Court decisions and legal action that was taken in our state with regard to equality issues that we think the bill will resolve," Abercrombie said.

In June, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which had restricted marriage to heterosexual couples. The ruling resulted in the federal recognition of gay marriages in states where it is legal. President Barack Obama advised federal agencies to review their policies in accordance with the judiciary's ruling, effectively opening immigration rights, for example, to the foreign spouses of gay U.S. nationals.

Abercrombie said that, at the latest, he hopes the bill will be passed before January, so that married gay couples can enjoy benefits including but "not exclusive to taxes ... If it's a question of people being able to have equality with regard to rights and benefits and so on, there is no justification for delaying them the capacity to exercise those rights and gain those benefits."

About 1,800 people applied to testify at the Senate Committee Hearing Monday, according to The Associated Press, but Abercrombie feels that over the past two decades, most Hawaiians have said their piece.

"As I indicated in my brief testimony today, everything that can be said has been said. Maybe not everyone has said it, but the likelihood of getting new information or perspectives at this stage is slim," he said.

"I expect that while there may be extensive testimony, it will reflect the discussion that's been going on for 20 years in this state."

Hawaii Family Advocates, which organized a demonstration against the bill on the Hawaii State Capitol Rotunda Monday, did not respond to Al Jazeera's interview request.