AB 946

This bill authorizes a civil celebrant to officiate at a marriage. The bill defines

a "civil celebrant" as an individual who is authorized by a secular organization to

solemnize marriages or civil unions. A "secular organization" under the bill is an

organization whose members subscribe to secular values, beliefs, and practices and

that is not affiliated with or controlled by a church or particular religious authority.

Under current law, a marriage is validly solemnized and contracted in this state after

a marriage license has been issued and the two parties mutually declare, before an

authorized officiating person and two witnesses, that they take each other as each

other's spouse. The following persons are authorized officiating persons: 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 each other's

spouse; 4) a judge, reserve judge, or municipal judge; and 5) a circuit court

commissioner. This bill adds a civil celebrant to the list of those who may officiate

at a marriage.