Lgbt-Related Bills Considered in 2015
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LGBT-RELATED BILLS coNsiDereD IN 2015 HRC.ORG/SEI | 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS The following is a categorized listing of LGBT-related bills introduced or considered in 2015 in state legislatures. Some of these bills were carried over from 2014. Bills pre-filed for the 2016 state legislative sessions are not included. *NOTE: The last update on the status of these measures was on December 31, 2015 RELATIONSHIP HATE CRIMES BILLS RECOGNITION BILLS 53 PASSED 03 PASSED 54 ACTIVE 05 ACTIVE 55 DEAD 11 DEAD YOUTH-RELATED BILLS PARENTING BILLS 56 PASSED 16 PASSED 62 ACTIVE 18 ACTIVE 72 DEAD 19 DEAD HEALTH & SAFETY BILLS NON-DISCRIMINATION 84 PASSED BILLS 87 ACTIVE 90 DEAD 21 PASSED 26 ACTIVE 37 DEAD ©2016 BY THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN FOUNDATION. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation owns all right, title and interest in and to this publication and all derivative works thereof. Permission for reproduction and redistribution is granted if the publication is (1) reproduced in its entirety and (2) distributed free of charge. The Human Rights Campaign name and the Equality logo are trademarks of the Human Rights Campaign. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation and design incorporating the Equality logo are trademarks of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. ISBN-10: 1-934765-35-X ISBN-13: 978-1-934765-35-7 If you would like to request use of state maps or scorecards, please contact us at [email protected]. When referencing this document, we recommend the following citation: Warbelow, Sarah and Xavier Persad (2016) 2015 State Equality Index. Washington, DC: Human Rights Campaign Foundation. FAVORABLE NEUTRAL UNFAVORABLE HRC.ORG/SEI | 2 BILLS | reLATioNshiP recogNITioN RELATIONSHIP RECOGNITION BILLS PASSED NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY BILL 3636 NORTH CAROLINA SENATE BILL 2 This bill extends marital confidentiality to individuals in a This bill allows magistrates, assistant, and deputy registers civil union. to recuse themselves of performing all marriages based on a religious objection. But, the chief district judge or register Status: This bill was introduced and referred to Judiciary of deeds must ensure all those who want a marriage Committee on Sept. 15, 2014. The bill passed the license can marry. Committee on Sept. 22, 2014 and the Full Assembly on Dec. 14, 2014. The bill was introduced in the Senate and Status: This bill was introduced in the Senate on January referred to Judiciary Committee on Dec. 15, 2014.The 28, 2015. It was referred to the Judiciary Committee on bill passed the Committee on May 7, 2015, and the full February 18, and passed Committee on February 24, Senate on June 25, 2015. The Governor signed the bill 2015. The bill passed the Senate on February 25, 2015. into law on Nov. 9, 2015. The bill was received by the House on February 27, 2015. It was referred to the Judiciary Committee on March 2, NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY BILL 4089 / SENATE 2015. The bill passed Committee on May 27, 2015. The BILL 2693 bill passed the House on May 27, 2015. The bill was sent This bill, in part, expands dental insurance coverage to to the Governor on May 28 and was vetoed on May 29, extend to individuals in a civil union. 2015. The Senate overrode the veto on June 1 and the House overrode the veto on June 11, 2015. Status: This bill was introduced and referred to the regulated professions Committee on Jan. 13, 2015. OKLAHOMA HOUSE BILL 1007 The bill was transferred to the Financial Institutions and This bill prohibits requiring a religious official to solemnize a Insurance Committee and passed the Committee on Feb. marriage that violates their conscience or religious beliefs. 5, 2015. The bill passed the whole Assembly on March 26, 2015. The bill was sent to the Senate and referred and Status: This bill was introduced on Feb. 2, 2015 and passed by the Commerce Committee on May 7, 2015. The referred to the Judiciary and Civil Procedure Committee. full Senate passed the bill on May 18, 2015. The Governor It passed the Judiciary and Civil Procedure Committee on signed the bill into law on Nov. 9, 2015. Feb. 5, 2015. It passed the House on Feb. 12, 2015. It was introduced in Senate on Feb. 16, 2015 and referred NEW YORK SENATE BILL 5868/ASSEMBLY BILL to Judiciary Committee. It passed the Judiciary Committee 8118 on April 7, 2015. It passed the Senate on April 22, 2015. This bill, in part, modernizes the laws of not-for-profit The Governor signed it into law on May 1, 2015 corporations and includes domestic partners within the definition of ‘relatives’. OKLAHOMA SENATE BILL 788 This bill would prohibit the government from requiring a Status: SB 5868 was introduced on June 9, 2015 and minister to solemnize any marriage. referred to the Rules Committee. The bill passed the Senate and was delivered to the Assembly on June 18. Status: This bill was introduced on February 2, 2015, 2015 at which point it was referred the Codes Committee. and referred to the Committee on Judiciary. It passed the It passed the Assembly and was returned to the Senate Committee on February 24, and the Senate on March on the same day. On Nov. 30, 2015 the bill was delivered 11. The bill was introduced to the House Committee on to the Governor and on December 11, 2015 it was signed Judiciary on March 17, but was withdrawn and re-referred into law. to the Committee on Rules on April 7. It passed the Committee on April 9, and the House on April 22. The Governor vetoed the bill on May 4, 2015. FAVORABLE NEUTRAL UNFAVORABLE HRC.ORG/SEI | 3 BILLS | reLATioNshiP recogNITioN PASSED OREGON HOUSE BILL 2478 UTAH SENATE BILL 297 This bill amends existing law to change “husband and wife” This bill restates First Amendment protections for religious to spouse. officials from having to perform marriage ceremonies against their religious convictions. This bill also allows Status: This bill was introduced on January 12, 2015. On religious officials and religious organizations to refuse to January 16, 2015 it was referred to the Rules Committee. solemnize or recognize same-sex marriages. The bill passed Committee on May 27, 2015. The bill passed the House on May 29, 2015. The bill was received Status: This bill was introduced on March 5, 2015 and by the Senate on June 1 and was referred to the Rules was sent to Committee. The bill passed Committee on Committee on June 2, 2015. The bill passed Committee March 5, 2015 and passed the Senate on March 9, 2015. on June 12, 2015. The bill passed the Senate on June 22, The bill was received by the House on March 10, 2015 2015 and was signed into law on July 1, 2015. and was sent to Committee on March 11, 2015. The bill passed Committee and passed the House on March 11, OREGON SENATE BILL 379 2015. The bill was sent back to the Senate, the Senate This bill, in part, updates laws relating to intestacy, wills, agreed with the House amendment on March 12, 2015. and estate administration to include the term spouse and The bill was signed into law on March 17, 2015. domestic partner. VIRGINIA HOUSE BILL 1469 Status: This bill was introduced on January 12, 2015. It This bill provides that the parties to a marriage shall was referred to the Judiciary Committee on January 20, be able to designate themselves on the application for 2015. The bill passed Committee on April 9, 2015. The marriage license as spouse, bride, or groom. bill passed the Senate on April 15, 2015. The bill was received by the House on April 16 and was referred to the Status: This bill was introduced on Dec. 31, 2014, and Judiciary Committee on April 22, 2015. The bill passed referred to the House Committee for Court Justice. It Committee on May 18, 2015. The bill passed the House passed the Committee on Feb. 4, 2015, and the full House on May 28, 2015. The Senate concurred with the House on Feb. 10, 2015. The bill was referred to the Senate amendments and repassed the bill on June 3, 2015. The Committee for Court Justice, which it passed on Feb. 18, bill was signed into law on June 11, 2015. 2015. The bill passed the full Senate with amendments on Feb. 23, 2015. The House adopted the Senate TEXAS SENATE BILL 2065/HOUSE BILL 3567 amendments on Feb. 24, 2015, and the Governor signed This bill would prohibit the government from requiring a the bill into law on March 27, 2016. religious organization, an individual employed by a religious organization, or a minister to solemnize a marriage that is inconsistent with that minister’s sincerely held religious beliefs. Status: This bill was introduced on Apr. 28, 2015, and referred to the Senate Committee on State Affairs. It passed the Committee on May 15, 2015, and the full Senate on May 12, 2015. The bill was referred to the House Committee on State Affairs, which it passed on May 21, 2015. It passed the full House on May 22, 2015, and the Governor signed the bill into law on Jun. 11, 2015. FAVORABLE NEUTRAL UNFAVORABLE HRC.ORG/SEI | 4 BILLS | reLATioNshiP recogNITioN ACTIVE ALASKA HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 1 2015, the House disagrees with Senate amendments. As This resolution would propose an amendment to the of Apr. 30, 2015, the bill is scheduled for a conference Alaskan Constitution repealing the Article 1 Sec. 25 of the Committee that was to reconvene on May 1, 2015. constitution that defines marriage only between a man and a woman.