Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) signed two domestic partnership bills into law yesterday, Senate Bill (SB) 566 and SB 597.

SB 566, related to health care and medical decisions, gives domestic partners the legal right to visit one another in the hospital and make funeral arrangements for each other, among other rights. The legislation was sponsored by Sen. Robert Garagiola (D-Germantown) and cross-filed by Del. James Hubbard (D-Bowie).

SB 597 adds domestic partners to the list of family members an individual can add or remove from the deed of his/her home without incurring recordation and transfer fees and taxes. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Rona Kramer (D-Olney) and cross-filed by Del. Anne Kaiser (D-Burtonsville).

Dan Furmansky, the executive director of the advocacy organization Equality Maryland, which lobbies to expand equal protection for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) state residents and their families, told PolitickerMD.com that it was "important that these bills were passed."

"They provide some measure of protection for LGBT couples," he added.

Furmansky was critical, however, of the state's "Democratic Party leadership," saying they "do not consider families headed by same-sex couples to be a priority issue."

"Maryland is falling behind among progressive states in rights given to LGBT couples and their families," Furmansky said. "At this rate we'll see equality in 2080."

One-week after the California Supreme Court overturned the state's ban on same-sex marriage, Furmansky said his organization would continue to push for legal same-sex marriage in Maryland.

While the General Assembly's 2008 legislative session has already concluded, Furmansky said Equality Maryland would continue to organize and hold rallies in support of same-sex marriage.

In January, The Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act was introduced in the General Assembly. The legislation, which had 7 lead sponsors and 42 cosponsors, failed to make it out of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.

Furmansky also said Equality Maryland planned to take "a very active role" in the 2010 legislative elections, but declined to name a specific legislator that the advocacy group was interested in unseating.