Marriage Issue Legislative Update Legislative Update State & Local March 18, 2010 California SB 906: This bill creates a new class of civil marriages, which would undermine the traditional definition of marriage. Action: Introduced on 1.27.10. On 1.28.10, a possible date of 2.27.10 was set to be acted upon. Set to the Committee on Judiciary on 2.11.10. On 3.11.10, a hearing is scheduled for 3.23.10. No Connecticut SB 333: This bill would validate all marriages and civil unions that took place before 6.07.06. Action: Introduced and referred to the Judiciary Committee on 2.25.10. No further action as of 3.18.10. Illinois HB 178: This bill would legalize same-sex marriage. Action: Introduced and referred to House Committee on Rules on 1.14.09. Assigned to Youth and Family Committee on 2.4.09 and re-referred to Rules Committee on 3.13.09. No
Illinois, continued SB 2468: This bill would legalize same-sex marriage. Action: Read in the Senate on 10.14. 09 and referred to the Committee on Assignments. Senator Emil Jones was added as chief co-sponsor and the bill assigned to the Executive Committee on 2.24.10. Senate postponed the Executive Committee s deadline for a vote on 3.08.10. No new date for committee vote was given. Senate postponed the deadline for a vote on 3.10.10 and no new deadline was given. No Minnesota SF 2145: This bill would legalize same-sex marriage. Action: Referred to the Committee on Judiciary on 5.14.09. No further action as of 3.18.10. SF 120: This bill would legalize same-sex marriage. Action: Presented in the Senate on 3.02.10. No New Jersey A795: This bill would authorize members of the New Jersey State Legislature to solemnize marriages and civil unions. Action: Introduced and referred to the Assembly Judiciary Committee on 1.12.10. No A2472: This bill would allow government employees to receive benefits for their domestic partners. Action: Introduced and referred to the Assembly State Government Committee on 3.08.10. No
New Jersey, continued S941: Amends the Access to Medical Research Act by giving a patient s domestic partner full authority over that patient s medical care. The domestic partner would have authority over the patient s adult children in making care decisions. Actions: Introduced and referred to the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee. Hearing scheduled for 3.18.10. No A 1068: Domestic partners of public employees are entitled to participate in public employee assistance programs if they so chose. Actions: Introduced and referred to the Assembly Labor Committee on 1.12.10. No New Hampshire HB 1590: This bill repeals same-sex marriage. Action: Introduced and referred to the House Judiciary on 12.10.09. Public hearing held on 1.20.10. Executive session on 2.9.10. The House deemed the bill inexpedient to legislate on 2.17.10. Representative Easton filed a motion for reconsideration on 2.17.10. No New York AB 2128: This bill would entitle domestic partners in certain provisions to receive disability benefits. This bill also defines domestic partner. Action: Referred to the Assembly Labor Committee on 1.06.10. No further action as of 3.18.10. AB 3452: This bill would allow credit unions to offer membership to domestic partners. Action: Referred to the Assembly Banks Committee on 1.06.10. No further action as of 3.18.10.
New York, continued AB 8344: This bill would extend benefits of state employees to their domestic partners. Action: Referred to the Assembly Governmental Employees Committee on 1.06.10. No AB 2368: This bill would mandate health insurance coverage to domestic partners of insured persons. Action: Set on Assembly calendar on 1.11.10 and assigned to Assembly Insurance Committee on 1.19.10. Laid aside on 3.01.10. Passed the Assembly on 3.15.10. Referred to the Senate Insurance Committee on 3.15.10. No SB 5682: This bill would make it illegal for a person that abandoned his or her spouse or domestic partner from collecting that individual s pension. Action: Introduced and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on 5.27.09. Referred again to the same committee on 1.06.10. Held at the Sponsor s request on 3.09.10. No Oklahoma HB 2634: This bill would create covenant marriage. Under covenant marriage, couples who complete twenty or more hours of premarital counseling may receive a marriage license at a reduced fee. Divorcing couples with a minor child must attend an educational program before addressing other issues. Action: Introduced on 2.1.10. Referred to the Judiciary at 2.23.10. Passed the House on 3.10.10. Referred to the Senate on 3.11.10. No Pennsylvania SB 935: Amends Title 23 (which addresses domestic relations) to provide for samesex marriages. Action: Introduced and referred to Senate Judiciary Committee. Discussed in press conference on 2.08.10. No
Pennsylvania, continued SB 707: This joint resolution defines marriage between one man and one woman. Action: Introduced and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on 2.18.10. On 3.16.10, the Senate Judiciary Committee met to discuss SB 707. Motion to table the bill carried on 3.16.10. No Rhode Island H 7809: This bill states that employers can take time off from work to care for their domestic partners. Action: Introduced and referred to the House Labor Committee on 2.25.10. Scheduled for hearing/consideration on 3.30.10. No West Virginia HJR 5: This resolution would amend the State Constitution to prohibit the state from recognizing same-sex marriages. Action: Introduced in the House and sent to the House Constitutional Revision Committee on 1.13.10. Motion to discharge committee laid over on House Calendar on 2.23.10. No HJR 111: This resolution would amend the State Constitution to prohibit the state from recognizing same-sex marriages. Action: Introduced in the House and sent to the House Constitutional Revision Committee on 2.22.10. No SJR 3: This resolution would amend the State Constitution to prohibit the state from recognizing same-sex marriages. Action: Introduced in the Senate and sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee on 1.13.10. No
Washington SB 5674: This bill would legalize same-sex marriage. Action: By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status on 1.10.10. No further action as of 3.18.10. Family Research Council 801 G Street, NW Washington DC, 20001 800.225.4008 www.frc.org