The State Council of Italy decided on July 21 that the transitional implementation decree for the country's civil unions bill is applicable. After the positive evaluation, the decree will pass onto other councils and finally will be issued. As a result of the accepted decree, civil unions will be registered and celebrated in advance of the scheduled September date. The first civil unions could be registered by early August. One of the most important points of the bridge decree is that conscientious objection is not allowed — in fact, it will be punishable by law.