Req. No. 7120 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023) HOUSE BILL 2423 By: May AS INTRODUCED An Act relating to marriage; amending 43 O.S. 2021, Section 7, which relates to solemnization of marriages; modifying who may perform formal ceremonies; and providing an effective date. BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE ST ATE OF OKLAHOMA: SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 43 O.S. 2021, Section 7, as amended by Section 3, Chapter 241, O.S.L. 2022 (43 O.S. Supp. 2022, Section 7), is amended to read as follows: Section 7. A. All marriages must be contracted by a formal ceremony performed or solemnized in the presence of at least two adult, competent persons as witnesses, by a judge or retired judge of any court in this state, or an ordained or authorized preac her or minister of the Gospel, priest, deacon, elder, or other ecclesiastical dignitary of any denomination who has been duly ordained or authorized by the church to which he or she be longs to preach the Gospel, or a rabbi and who is at least eigh teen (18) years of age. Req. No. 7120 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 B. 1. The judge shall place his or her order of appointment on file with the office of the court clerk of the county in which he or she resides. 2. The preacher, minister, priest, deacon, elder, rabbi, or ecclesiastical dignitar y shall certify on the marriage certificate that he or she holds credentials or authority from his or her church or synagogue authorizing him or her to solemnize ma rriages. C. No person herein authorized to perform or sole mnize a marriage ceremony shall do so unless he or she has good reason to believe the persons pr esenting themselves before him or her for marriage are the identical persons named in the license, and for whose marriage the same was issued, and that there is no legal objection or impediment to such marriag e. D. Marriages between pe rsons belonging to t he society called Friends, or Quakers, the spiritual assembly of the Baha 'is, or the Church of Jesus Christ of La tter Day Saints, which have no ordained minister, may be solemnized by the persons and in the ma nner prescribed by and prac ticed in any such so ciety, church, or assembly. SECTION 2. This act shall become effective November 1, 2023. 59-1-7120 CMA 01/11/23