RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina House is ready to revisit a bill already approved by the Senate that would allow some court officials to decline carrying out same-sex marriage duties.

A House judiciary panel scheduled debate Wednesday on legislation giving the option to magistrates and some registers of deeds employees. Those with "sincerely held religious" objections would have to stop marriage duties for all couples for at least six months.

House Speaker Tim Moore says the legislation could reach the House floor later Wednesday. The House committee already met once on the measure.

Civil gay marriage ceremonies started in North Carolina last October after federal courts struck down the state's constitutional ban.

GOP Gov. Pat McCrory has expressed opposition to the religious exemption idea but hasn't said whether he would veto it.