Requirements for persons officiating at a marriage

What it does

Summary by the Legislative Reference Bureau, the Legislature's nonpartisan drafting office. It's their wording, not ours.

Under current law, the following persons may officiate at a marriage: 1) an ordained member of the clergy; 2) a licentiate of a denominational body or an appointee of a bishop serving as the regular member of the clergy of any church of the denomination to which the member of the clergy belongs; 3) the two marrying parties themselves, by mutual declaration that they take each other as husband and wife; 4) a judge, reserve judge, or municipal judge; and 5) a circuit court commissioner. If a person listed under 1) or 2) above is not a state resident, the person may officiate at a marriage in this state if the person has a letter of sponsorship from a member of the clergy of the same religious denomination or society who has a church in this state under his or her ministry.

This bill provides that, except for the two parties themselves, who may be under age 18 under certain circumstances, any person who officiates at a marriage must be at least 18 years old. The bill also eliminates the requirement for a letter of sponsorship if the person officiating is a person listed under 1) or 2) above and not a state resident.

Who's behind it

19 lawmakers are its authors⁠. 15 are Republicans and 4 are Democrats.

5 more lawmakers signed on in support⁠.