Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the California Insurance Equality Act (AB 2208) into law Sept. 13. The bill, which ensures that domestic partners and married spouses are considered equal in all insurance policies issued in the state, is one of three GLBT-rights bills passed by the state Legislature last month that are now up for consideration by Schwarzenegger.

“This is great news for the LGBT community – a big win,” Assemblymember Christine Kehoe told the Gay & Lesbian Times. “Insurance coverage, whether for home, auto or health purposes, is a vital concern for everyone. AB 2208 ensures there will be no insurance discrimination for registered domestic partners. This legislation will result in real changes for the LGBT community.”

The legislation, which brings state insurance, health and safety codes in line with the Domestic Partners Rights and Responsibilities Act (AB 205) set to take effect in January, could make a difference for up to 90 percent of registered domestic partners in the state.

A Sacramento Superior Court recently dismissed two lawsuits challenging the legality of AB 205 based on the California Defense of Marriage Act (Proposition 22), saying that AB 205 deals expressly with domestic partnerships and does not address marriage.

Some political analysts have speculated that Gov. Schwarzenegger, as a moderate Republican, was trying to pass AB 2208 quietly without offending his right-wing support when he signed the bill with no advance notice. Kehoe said the magnitude of bills crossing the governor’s desk means that many bills do not get a lot of advance notice.

Kehoe, who sponsored AB 2208, said she is hopeful that the governor will sign other GLBT-friendly bills. “I suspect that the governor reviews each bill individually on its merits,” she said. “I hope he will see the merit in these other bills that are important to the LGBT community.”

Schwarzenegger has until the end of September to sign or veto AB 2900, the Omnibus Labor and Employment Act, and SB 1234, the Omnibus Hate Crimes Act. AB 2900 would amend California’s existing labor and employment nondiscrimination laws to also include age, physical and mental disability and sexual orientation. SB 1234 would standardize penal codes relating to hate crimes to include hate speech that is “reasonably” feared to result in violence and would change victim treatment and law enforcement training policies. SB 1234 is the only bill in the series that got bipartisan support in the Legislature.

Though GLBT-friendly legislation is having an easier time passing in California than in other states these days, there have also been setbacks, such as the California Supreme Court invalidating over 4,000 gender-neutral marriage licenses in San Francisco in August. “But we are moving in the right direction,” Kehoe said. “It’s important to stay focused and to support legislators who fight for the LGBT community.”

Kehoe was recently appointed chair of the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security. The 14-member committee, which will hold its first hearing in October, will help evaluate fire prevention and safety strategies, oversee rules and regulations governing the review and resolve of conflicting fire laws and regulations, and develop fire preparedness guidelines.