In 2007 the state legislature passed the domestic partnership registry bill. This bill allowed same-sex couples, and heterosexual partners where one partner was over the age of 62, to register as domestic partners and receive about two dozen of the 485 legal protections of marriage under state law.

The 2008 domestic partnership bill will significantly increase the protections available under state law. This does not represent equality for same-sex couples who are currently denied the right to civil marriage. Even if the 2008 bill is enacted same-sex couples will not receive the more than 1,000 protections of marriage under federal law and many state rights as well. But the 2008 bill significantly increases the protections available to same-sex couples and will provide much needed relief while we continue the struggle for full marriage equality.