Gov. Gregoire signs bill extending domestic partnership rights

For Immediate Release: March 12, 2008

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today signed House Bill 3104 at a ceremony in Olympia. The bill expands the rights and obligations of domestic partners and requires that they take on certain responsibilities required of married couples.

�This bill strengthens Washington by strengthening families,� Gregoire said. �It strengthens families by providing domestic partners with rights and responsibilities they need to maintain stable, loving relationships for them and their children.�

In 2007, Substitute Senate Bill 5336 created the state domestic partnership registry. The legislation allows individuals to enter into a state domestic partnership if they meet established criteria. Some of the powers and rights of spouses were granted to domestic partnerships in that legislation. Since the legislation was enacted, approximately 3,245 couples have registered as domestic partners.

�Less than two years ago, the Washington Supreme Court said that it was up to the Legislature to decide whether same-sex couples and their families enjoyed any legal recognition or protection,� said Rep. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, the bill�s sponsor. �I am amazed and proud at how far we have come since then.�

The 2007 legislation, however, addressed only some of the powers and rights granted to spouses. House Bill 3104 adds additional rights and responsibilities relating to issues such as dissolutions, community property, estate planning, taxes, court process, conflicts of interest for public officials and guardianships.

�Lesbian and gay families lack financial security because we don�t have the basic legal and financial protections that married couples are provided,� said Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, sponsor of the Senate�s version of the bill. �With Governor Gregoire signing this bill today, we�re taking another important step in giving financial equality and fairness to loving families. This work is not about more rights, it�s about equal rights.�

�The domestic partnership expansion bill, being signed into law today by Governor Gregoire, provides basic protections to many of Washington�s most vulnerable families, and is particularly important to lesbian and gay families during times of crisis,� said Connie Watts, executive director of Equal Rights Washington.

�This bill demonstrates once again that Washington is a state where we care about fairness for everybody, and we stand up for the rights of everybody,� Gregoire said. �We always have � and we always will.�

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