The Reform Party and the Social Democratic Party supported introducing a partnership law, against the opposition of the conservative Pro Patria and Res Publica Union. The Centre Party supported a discussion on the issue. The bill was drafted in August 2012 by the Minister of Justice and was under consultation until October 1, 2012. In March 2014, a parliamentary group began to examine the draft bill. The legislation, entitled the "Registered Partnership Act" (), was submitted to Parliament on April 17, 2014. On May 22, the bill was backed by the Rõivas Government. On June 19, 2014, Parliament rejected a motion to kill the bill at its first reading, in a 32-45 vote. The second reading took place on October 8, where a motion to hold a referendum on the bill was defeated in a 35-42 vote and another motion to kill it was defeated in a 41-33 vote. The bill passed its final vote on October 9 in a 40-38 vote. It was signed into law by President Toomas Hendrik Ilves the same day and took effect on January 1, 2016.