Appropriations committee advances package including marriage-solemnizer bill amid Republican opposition

The committee advanced a package of bills that included House Bill 733, which would expand the categories of individuals authorized to solemnize marriages and establish uniform exceptions, and House Bill 2455, which would grant collective-bargaining rights to school administrators in the Pittsburgh School District. The Chair called the two measures as a package and asked for discussion.

A Committee member stated, “On these 2 bills, Republicans will be voting in the negative,” and later said they personally did not want to perform marriage ceremonies. The Chair responded that Democrats would vote affirmatively and declared the package would pass. The exchange signaled a party-line split on the marriage-solemnizer provision; the collective-bargaining proposal drew no extended debate in the committee record.

The Executive Director had summarized the bills earlier, saying House Bill 733 “expands the individuals authorized to solemnize marriages and establishes uniform exceptions,” and that House Bill 2455 “provides collective bargaining rights to school administrators in the Pittsburgh School District.” The committee moved both bills forward as a package to the House floor.

Also called during the meeting were other bills (House Bills 2499 and 2529 and Senate Bills 604 and 1259) that the Chair reported would be forwarded to the floor as a package with unanimous committee support, per the Chair’s announcement.

The committee adjourned after noting representatives present and confirming there was no further business.