Senator Robin Padilla is pushing for the legal recognition of same-sex couples through Senate Bill No. 600, or the proposed Civil Partnership Act, which seeks to give couples in civil partnerships legal rights and protections without redefining marriage or interfering with religious beliefs.
Under the measure, couples entering a civil partnership must both be at least 18 years old, freely and fully consent to the union, have the legal capacity to enter the partnership, and have no existing marriage or civil partnership. The proposal would also require a civil partnership license, a ceremony and two witnesses.
Filed in July 2025, the bill would grant civil partners rights involving property and financial benefits, medical care and decision-making, and authority over burial arrangements.
It also seeks to protect civil partners from discrimination based on their partnership status. The proposed law would prohibit discriminatory practices involving employment, promotions and benefits, as well as access to public accommodations such as hotels, restaurants and apartments.
Padilla’s proposal also contains protections for religious freedom. Religious organizations would not be required to conduct or solemnize same-sex civil partnership ceremonies.
The measure would establish a separate legal framework for same-sex couples seeking formal recognition of their relationships and access to rights currently tied to legally recognized family relationships.
