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Committee approves amendment to allow exceptions for marriage-license appearance requirements

Judiciary Committee · February 20, 2026

Summary

The committee amended and approved House Bill 95 to let clerks waive in-person appearance for marriage-license applicants in cases such as military service, hospitalization, incarceration or other good cause, then voted the bill favorably as amended.

House Bill 95, dealing with appearance requirements for marriage-license applicants, was amended and approved by the Judiciary Committee. The sponsor explained the change comes from court clerks’ testimony and is designed to give clerks discretion to accept affidavits or waive the applicant’s presence when appropriate.

“The amendment...establishes exceptions to the requirement in the bill that both parties to be married appear before the clerk to apply and the exceptions are military service, hospitalization, incarceration, or other good cause shown,” an amendment proponent explained while the committee considered the language. Members moved and seconded the amendment; the panel voted to adopt it. The committee then called the roll and recorded a favorable vote on HB 95 as amended.

The bill advances to the next stage with the amendment providing clear examples of when a clerk may waive appearance.

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