The Senate gave final approval on a 29-20 vote after minimal debate. The bill now goes to Gov. Chris Gregoire, who is expected to sign it.

The measure adds domestic partners to sections of laws where previously only spouses were mentioned, including areas referring to probate and trusts, community property and homestead exemptions, and guardianship and powers of attorney.

The underlying domestic partnership law, passed last year, already provides hospital visitation rights, the ability to authorize autopsies and organ donations and inheritance rights when there is no will.

More than 3,500 couples have registered as domestic partners since the law took effect.

The measure makes dozens of changes to state law, including requiring domestic partners of public officials to submit financial disclosure forms, just as the spouses of heterosexual officials do.

It also would give domestic partners the same spousal testimony rights that married couples have, allowing domestic partners the right to refuse to testify against each other in court.

Opponents argued that expanding the current law brings the state closer to allowing same-sex marriage.

“This bill provides most of the rights of marriage,” said Sen. Dan Swecker, R-Rochester. “It would take little to achieve gay marriage other than simply a name change.”

DEVELOPMENTS TUESDAY IN OLYMPIA

Local governments may be able to fund campaigns

Candidates for local office could get public money to support their election bids – but only if the voters sign off first – under a bill that cleared the state Legislature.

The state House gave final legislative approval on a 51-43 vote, after a long debate. Under the bill, cities, counties, and other jurisdictions could provide local candidates with government financing, but only after getting approval for such a program from local voters.

Only local taxes could be tapped for the public campaign accounts, and the money could not be used in campaigns for state offices or school boards.

Rep. Joyce McDonald, R-Puyallup, quoted Thomas Jefferson in arguing that public campaign financing was akin to the British system rejected by America’s founders.

“People are free to give, and they’re free not to give,” McDonald said. “We ought to leave it that way.”

Democratic supporters, however, said public financing could help reduce the influence of special interest money in local campaigns and might encourage more people to run for office.

“By making sure that the common people can support and have a fair election, races will not be decided by the person with the biggest checkbook,” said Rep. Mark Miloscia, D-Federal Way. “Checkbook democracy is the wrong kind of democracy.”

It’s unclear whether Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire will sign the bill into law.

The Associated Press

Program to use dogs while hunting cougars expanded

The Washington Legislature has passed a bill that expands and extends the use of tracking dogs in cougar hunts.

The bill now heads to Gov. Chris Gregoire, after passing the Senate 31-18.

The measure adds three years to a program that allows people to hunt cougars with dogs. The existing program has been operating since 2004, and it includes five counties in northeast Washington. This measure allows all counties to participate.

Hunters can obtain cougar tags from the state.

The Associated Press