TALLAHASSEE — On Monday, April 1 the Florida Senate Committee on Children, Families and Elder Affairs announced passage of the “Families First” bill (SB 196), legislation that would provide essential legal protections for unmarried couples, including hospital visitation, correctional facility visitation, end of life decision-making, and burial arrangements.

By a vote of 5 to 4, the committee voted to move closer to creating a statewide domestic partnership registry (DPR).

“The bill passed with support from both Democrats and Republicans, together with bipartisan sponsorship of the Florida Competitive Workforce Act, signaling a new day in Florida,” said Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida. “This is a reflection of the change in public opinion favoring legal equality for all Florida couples. Our political leaders are finally listening to the pain inflicted on couples who are treated as legal strangers. And they are listening to the growing voice of business leaders who are calling for statewide protections that will help them attract and retain a diverse workforce.”

A majority of Floridians already live in a local community that has a domestic partnership registry. Among those jurisdictions which have established registries are Broward County, Miami-Dade County, Pinellas County, Volusia County, Orange County, North Miami, Key West, Tampa, Orlando, Gainesville, Tavares, and Clearwater.

The Families First bill, sponsored by State Sen. Eleanor Sobel (D-Hollywood), would eliminate the existing patchwork of policies, providing important legal protections for Floridians and their families, regardless of where they live in the state.

“Today we made history,” Sobel proclaimed when the vote was taken.

In 2008, the Florida state constitution was amended to add Article I, Section 27, which defines marriage as a union solely between one man and one woman. The language bans the creation of any status that is similar to that definition, including civil unions and same-sex marriage.

The language of Sobel’s bill specifically states that it doesn’t attempt to circumvent Article I, Section 27, but would allow same-sex couples who are at least 18 years old to establish a domestic partnership.