Domestic Partner Benefits

Although proponents of same-sex marriage legislation were disappointed not to get a committee vote this year, the General Assembly did pass laws to benefit domestic partners. The legislature overwhelmingly approved an ACLU bill specifying that domestic partner health insurance benefits are not taxable income for state income tax purposes, and explicitly entitling state employees and their partners to the protections of COBRA and to the state’s Family Medical Leave Act. And in separate action, the legislature approved a bill allowing domestic partners to receive the death benefits of police officers or firefighters killed in the line of duty.