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It’s been five years since courts said Florida’s ban on gay adoptions was unconstitutional, but it took until today for state lawmakers to take the ban off the books.

The repeal of the ban was included in legislation giving bonuses to state employees who adopt children, including autistic and others behaviorally challenged. The legislation was championed by Senate President Andy Gardiner.

“There a lot of us who feel the court has already ruled on that. It’s been the law of the land for four or five years. Um. To me it was looking at the overall policy of providing incentives for individuals to be adopted. So I was very comfortable with it. Very proud of President Gaetz and it’s on its way to the Governor” said Gardiner.

The legislation also allows people who plan to homeschool children to adopt. It does not include the controversial “conscious exemption” that allows private agencies to deny gay adoptions.