Six deputies from the Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC) introduced a civil union bill ("proyecto de ley n. 20.888") in early July 2018. Under the bill, same-sex couples would be granted almost all of the rights of marriage, including pension, tax benefits, housing, immigration rights, etc., via the recognition of civil unions rather than marriages. It was rejected by the Human Rights Committee on October 15, 2019. A second, similar bill was presented in September 2019 by the New Republic and Social Christian Unity parliamentary groups. It would have established the legal figure of "civil cohabitations" ("convivientes civiles") for same-sex couples. However, it would not have granted the same rights as marriage, notably concerning adoption rights, access to loans, citizenship for non-citizens who marry a Costa Rican national, and divorce settlements. It was introduced to the Legislative Assembly on February 18, 2020. The bill was criticized by other parties, including the conservative National Restoration Party, whose speaker, Pastor Eduardo Cruickshank, described it as "irresponsible and populist".