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SF3059 (Legislative Session 94 (2025-2026))

Legislators authority to preform civil marriages clarification

Related bill: HF3163

AI Generated Summary

Purpose of the Bill

The main purpose of this bill is to clarify the roles of individuals who are legally permitted to officiate civil marriages in the state of Minnesota, specifically by including legislators as official officiants.

Main Provisions

  • The bill modifies existing statutes to clearly state that current members of the Minnesota Senate and House of Representatives are authorized to perform civil marriages.
  • Besides legislators, it continues to authorize other individuals such as judges, court administrators, ministers, and registered civil marriage officiants to solemnize marriages.
  • It specifies that individuals performing marriage ceremonies must have reached the age of 21.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

  • The primary change is the clear inclusion of Minnesota state legislators as authorized officials to perform civil marriages, which was not explicitly spelled out in prior law.

Relevant Terms

civil marriages, officiant, legislators, solemnize, Minnesota Senate, House of Representatives, judges, court administrators, ministers, registered civil marriage officiants.

Bill text versions

Actions

DateChamberWhereTypeNameCommittee Name
March 26, 2025SenateFloorActionIntroduction and first reading
March 26, 2025SenateFloorActionReferred toJudiciary and Public Safety

Citations

 
[
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Authorized current members of the senate or house of representatives to solemnize marriages."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "This act amends Minnesota Statutes section 517.04 to clarify that legislators are authorized to perform civil marriages.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "517.04",
    "subdivision": ""
  },
  {
    "analysis": {
      "added": [
        "Inclusion of Office of Administrative Hearings as a court of record."
      ],
      "removed": [],
      "summary": "Clarification of what constitutes a court of record to include the Office of Administrative Hearings under section 14.48.",
      "modified": []
    },
    "citation": "14.48",
    "subdivision": ""
  }
]

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