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SENATE FLOOR VERSION
April 11, 2023
ENGROSSED HOUSE
BILL NO. 2423 By: May of the House
and
Coleman of the Senate
An Act relating to marriage; amending 43 O.S. 2021,
Section 7, as amended by Section 3 , Chapter 241,
O.S.L. 2022 (43 O.S. Supp. 2022, Section 7), which
relates to marriage ceremonies; 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 witn esses, by a judge or retired judge
of any court in this state, or an ord ained 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 chu rch to which he or she belongs to
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preach the Gospel, or a rabbi and who is at least eigh teen (18)
years of age.
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 marriages.
C. No person herein authorized to perform or solemnize 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 Chris t of Latter 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.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
April 11, 2023 - DO PASS