The Washington Legislature has just passed an "everything but marriage" bill that grants the state's registered domestic partners all the rights and benefits the state offers married couples.
The measure passed easily by a 62-35 vote. Also, all of the amendments proposed by the right were shot down. The Senate already passed the bill, so it now goes to Gov. Chris Gregoire, who is expected to sign it into law.
The bill expands on previous domestic partnership laws by adding partnerships to all remaining areas of state law where currently only married couples are mentioned. The statutes range from labor and employment rights, to pensions and other public employee benefits.