New York lawmakers are shelving a proposed amendment that would enshrine broad equality protections into the state's constitution after being unable to agree on a final version. 

The amendment was called for after a leaked draft of a Supreme Court ruling last month was made public that outlined an overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. The provision was meant to codify abortion rights in the constitution as well a a broad series of legal protections for New Yorkers. 

But lawmakers in the state Assembly and state Senate could not reach an agreement on the language in the amendment, state Sen. Diane Savino said. Changing the constitution requires amendments to be approved twice by the Legislature in two separately elected sessions. Voters have the final say in a referendum before it can be approved. 

Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins in a news conference on Wednesday indicated religious concerns had been holding up the negotiations over the amendment. 

Despite the amendment's failure, Gov. Kathy Hochul and Democratic lawmakers were able to reach agreements for legal protections for abortion service providers in the state as well as women who come to New York seeking abortions from states that may outlaw the procedure if Roe is overturned.