BILL · 2011–12 SESSION · LATEST VERSION ESSB 6239

SB 6239: Marriage & dom. partnerships

Concerning civil marriage and domestic partnerships.

Summary

Allows couples of the same sex to marry.
Provides an exemption and immunity for religious organizations, religiously affiliated educational institutions, and minsters, priests, imams, rabbis, and similar officials of religious organizations.
Provides that a state registered domestic partnership in which the parties are the same sex and under the age of 62 will be merged into a marriage as of June 30, 2014, unless the parties marry or dissolve their domestic partnership before that date.

From the Engrossed Substitute House Bill Report (ESSB 6239), written by the Legislature's nonpartisan staff. Read the full report ↗

Enacted Enacted · Chapter 3, Laws of 2012

IntroducedJan 16, 2012
Out of committeeJan 27, 2012
Passed SenateFeb 1, 2012
Passed HouseFeb 8, 2012
GovernorFeb 13, 2012
LawFeb 13, 2012

Prime sponsor: Ed Murray (D-43)
Introduced: January 16, 2012 in the Senate
Last action: February 13, 2012
Session law: Chapter 3, Laws of 2012
Requested by: Governor
Companion bill: HB 2516
Budget: Has a fiscal note
Versions: SB 6239, ESSB 6239

AN ACT Relating to providing equal protection for all families in Washington by creating equality in civil marriage and changing the domestic partnership laws, while protecting religious freedom;

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Passed February 1, 2012

Version voted on: ESSB 6239

28 Yea 21 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	24	3	0	0
Republican	4	18	0	0

How each member voted

Yea (28)

Nay (21)

Permalink to this vote

House · Final Passage

Passed February 8, 2012

Version voted on: ESSB 6239

55 Yea 43 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	53	3	0	0
Republican	2	40	0	0

How each member voted

Yea (55)

Nay (43)

Permalink to this vote

10 other recorded votes (amendments, procedural motions)

Senate · Amendment Number 14 by Senator Swecker, on Page 4, Line 24

February 1, 2012

Version voted on: ESSB 6239

22 Yea 27 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	2	25	0	0
Republican	20	2	0	0

How each member voted

Yea (22)

Nay (27)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · Amendment Number 17 by Senator Benton, on Page 8, Line 26

February 1, 2012

Version voted on: ESSB 6239

23 Yea 26 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	3	24	0	0
Republican	20	2	0	0

How each member voted

Yea (23)

Nay (26)

Permalink to this vote

Senate · Amendment Number 10 by Senator Hatfield, on Page 8, Line 29

February 1, 2012

Version voted on: ESSB 6239

23 Yea 26 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	3	24	0	0
Republican	20	2	0	0

How each member voted

Yea (23)

Nay (26)

Permalink to this vote

House · Amendment 906 by Shea (page 1, line 10)

February 8, 2012

Version voted on: ESSB 6239

45 Yea 53 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	4	52	0	0
Republican	41	1	0	0

How each member voted

Yea (45)

Nay (53)

Permalink to this vote

House · Amendment 939 by Smith (page 1, line 10)

February 8, 2012

Version voted on: ESSB 6239

45 Yea 53 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	3	53	0	0
Republican	42	0	0	0

How each member voted

Yea (45)

Nay (53)

Permalink to this vote

House · Amendment 913 by Smith (page 5, line 4)

February 8, 2012

Version voted on: ESSB 6239

45 Yea 53 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	4	52	0	0
Republican	41	1	0	0

How each member voted

Yea (45)

Nay (53)

Permalink to this vote

House · Amendment 908 by Shea (page 5, line 12)

February 8, 2012

Version voted on: ESSB 6239

42 Yea 55 Nay 1 Absent 0 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	2	53	1	0
Republican	40	2	0	0

How each member voted

Yea (42)

Nay (55)

Absent (1)

Jeannie Darneille D-27

Permalink to this vote

House · Amendment 909 by Rodne (page 10, line 3)

February 8, 2012

Version voted on: ESSB 6239

47 Yea 51 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	5	51	0	0
Republican	42	0	0	0

How each member voted

Yea (47)

Nay (51)

Permalink to this vote

House · 910 Rodne Striker

February 8, 2012

Version voted on: ESSB 6239

42 Yea 56 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	2	54	0	0
Republican	40	2	0	0

How each member voted

Yea (42)

Nay (56)

Permalink to this vote

House · 911 Rodne Striker

February 8, 2012

Version voted on: ESSB 6239

42 Yea 56 Nay 0 Absent 0 Excused

Party	Yea	Nay	Absent	Excused
Democrat	2	54	0	0
Republican	40	2	0	0

How each member voted

Yea (42)

Nay (56)

Permalink to this vote

History

Feb 13, 2012Chapter 3, 2012 Laws. (ESSB 6239)
Feb 13, 2012Governor signed. (ESSB 6239)
Feb 13, 2012Effective date 6/7/2012***. (ESSB 6239)
Feb 9, 2012Delivered to Governor. (ESSB 6239)
Feb 9, 2012Speaker signed. (ESSB 6239)
Feb 9, 2012President signed. (ESSB 6239)
Feb 8, 2012Third reading, passed; yeas, 55; nays, 43; absent, 0; excused, 0. (ESSB 6239)
Feb 8, 2012Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading. (ESSB 6239)
Feb 6, 2012Placed on second reading. (ESSB 6239)
Feb 6, 2012Minority; do not pass. (ESSB 6239)
Feb 6, 2012JUDI - Majority; do pass. (ESSB 6239)
Feb 6, 2012JUDI - Executive action taken by committee. (ESSB 6239)
Feb 3, 2012First reading, referred to Judiciary. (ESSB 6239)
Feb 1, 2012Third reading, passed; yeas, 28; nays, 21; absent, 0; excused, 0. (ESSB 6239)
Feb 1, 2012Floor amendment(s) adopted. (ESSB 6239)
Feb 1, 20121st substitute bill substituted. (ESSB 6239)
Feb 1, 20121st substitute bill substituted.
Jan 31, 2012Placed on second reading by Rules Committee. (ESSB 6239)
Jan 31, 2012Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.
Jan 27, 2012Passed to Rules Committee for second reading. (ESSB 6239)
Jan 27, 2012Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
Jan 26, 2012GO - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass. (ESSB 6239)
Jan 26, 2012Minority; do not pass. (ESSB 6239)
Jan 26, 2012Minority; do not pass.
Jan 26, 2012GO - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.
Jan 16, 2012First reading, referred to Government Operations, Tribal Relations & Elections.

SB 6239 in other sessions

Bill numbers restart every two years, so the same number is a different bill in each session.

SB 6239 (2025–26) State tort claims · Did not pass · passed Senate, stalled in House
SB 6239 (2023–24) High school/AP, IB, CIE exam · Did not pass · died in committee
SB 6239 (2019–20) Public works projects · Enacted · Chapter 255, Laws of 2020
SB 6239 (2017–18) Alcohol manuf/ancillary viol · Did not pass · died in committee
SB 6239 (2015–16) Affordable housing options · Did not pass · passed Senate, stalled in House
SB 6239 (2013–14) Rural cnty sales & use taxes · Did not pass · died in committee
SB 6239 (2009–10) Gender-based terms · Enacted · Chapter 8, Laws of 2010
SB 6239 (2007–08) Annexation review board · Did not pass · stalled on the Senate floor

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SB 6239: Marriage & dom. partnerships

Summary

Sponsors

Votes

Senate · 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yea (28)

Nay (21)

House · Final Passage

Yea (55)

Nay (43)

Senate · Amendment Number 14 by Senator Swecker, on Page 4, Line 24

Yea (22)

Nay (27)

Senate · Amendment Number 17 by Senator Benton, on Page 8, Line 26

Yea (23)

Nay (26)

Senate · Amendment Number 10 by Senator Hatfield, on Page 8, Line 29

Yea (23)

Nay (26)

House · Amendment 906 by Shea (page 1, line 10)

Yea (45)

Nay (53)

House · Amendment 939 by Smith (page 1, line 10)

Yea (45)

Nay (53)

House · Amendment 913 by Smith (page 5, line 4)

Yea (45)

Nay (53)

House · Amendment 908 by Shea (page 5, line 12)

Yea (42)

Nay (55)

Absent (1)

House · Amendment 909 by Rodne (page 10, line 3)

Yea (47)

Nay (51)

House · 910 Rodne Striker

Yea (42)

Nay (56)

House · 911 Rodne Striker

Yea (42)

Nay (56)

History

SB 6239 in other sessions