House and Senate Democrats today unveiled plans for broadening domestic-partnership rights. At a noon press conference, bill sponsors Sen. Ed Murray (D-Seattle) and Rep. Jamie Pedersen (D-Seattle) introduced this year’s legislation, which builds on two previous years of legislation in 2007 and 2008. At a press conference on the Capitol Campus, the legislators outlined how their bills would close the remaining equality gaps in state law for domestic partners. If enacted, the legislation would ensure that registered domestic partners receive all of the state law rights and responsibilities of married spouses.
Pedersen says, “This year’s legislation will finish the important work we started in 2007 to ensure that all committed couples in this state are afforded the same rights and responsibilities.”
Next up? Hearings on the bills. Pedersen’s bill will be heard by the Judiciary Committee, likely next week.
Read more about HB 1727 and SB 5688, or read the press release.
