On 20 November 2015, Parliament approved 5 bills allowing adoption by same-sex spouses in first reading. The bills were sent to the Committee for Constitutional Affairs, Rights, Freedoms and Guarantees. On 16 December, the committee merged the bills into one project and voted for its approval. On 18 December, the bill was approved by Parliament in its second, final vote. President Cavaco Silva vetoed the bill on 23 January 2016, with the decision being announced publicly on 25 January. On 10 February 2016, the veto was overridden by Parliament. The law was published in the official journal on 29 February, and took effect the first day of the first month after its publication (i.e. 1 March 2016).