SENATE BILL REPORT
HB 1657
As Reported by Senate Committee On:
Law & Justice, March 22, 2023
Title: An act relating to the authority of justices, judges, and judicial officers of federal courts to solemnize marriages.
Brief Description: Authorizing justices, judges, and judicial officers of federal courts to solemnize marriages.
Sponsors: Representatives Street, Cheney, Simmons, Taylor, Ormsby and Hutchins.
Brief History: Passed House: 2/13/23, 96-0.
Committee Activity: Law & Justice: 3/08/23, 3/22/23 [DP].
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Authorizes federal justices, judges, and judicial officers to solemnize marriages.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAW & JUSTICE
Majority Report: Do pass.
Signed by Senators Dhingra, Chair; Trudeau, Vice Chair; Padden, Ranking Member; Kuderer, McCune, Pedersen, Salomon, Torres, Valdez, Wagoner and Wilson, L..
Staff: Tim Ford (786-7423)
Background:

Certain judicial officers and religious organization officials are authorized to solemnize marriages.  Authorized judicial officers include Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges, superior court judges, district court judges, municipal court judges, Supreme Court commissioners, Court of Appeals commissioners, and superior court commissioners.
Summary of Bill:

Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, and all judges and judicial officers of the federal courts, are authorized to solemnize marriages.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not requested.
Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.
Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

PRO: This simply adds federal judges to the list of judges that can officiate a wedding.
Persons Testifying: PRO: Representative Chipalo Street, Prime Sponsor.
Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.