Indiana legislators have decided to hold off on pursuing this session an amendment to the state constitution defining marriage between a man and woman, citing the pending cases on the topic before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn, is the author of Senate Joint Resolution 8, which says only a marriage between one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as marriage in this state. “A legal status identical to or substantially similar to that of marriage for unmarried individuals shall not be valid or recognized,” the joint resolution says.

“I am thankful for Sen. (David) Long and Speaker (Brian) Bosma’s careful consideration of the marriage protection amendment,” Kruse said in a statement Thursday. “Like them, I believe it is prudent to wait and to make sure the amendment will be in line with any Supreme Court ruling regarding California’s marriage amendment. I will abide by the decision of our caucus and support hearing it in the next year.”

The resolution already passed through the Legislature in 2011, meaning if it gained approval again this year or in 2014, it will go before voters in November 2014.

In December, the U.S. Supreme Court grant cert to two constitutional challenges involving same-sex marriage. Indiana has authored or co-authored amicus briefs in the cases, Hollingsworth v. Perry, 12-144, and U.S. v. Windsor, 12-307. Indiana argues for the states to maintain the ability to define marriage.