Pennsylvania HB 733: An Act amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in marriage ceremony, further providing for persons qualified to solemnize marriages.

Bill Text

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 757 PRINTER'S NO. 3636
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 733
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY McNEILL, MADDEN, OTTEN, GIRAL, RABB, SANCHEZ,
NEILSON, BERNSTINE, CERRATO, SHUSTERMAN, GREEN AND CONKLIN,
FEBRUARY 25, 2025
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 17, 2026
AN ACT
Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in marriage ceremony, further
providing for persons qualified to solemnize marriages.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 1503(a) of Title 23 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a paragraph to read:
§ 1503. Persons qualified to solemnize marriages.
(a) General rule.--The following are authorized to solemnize
marriages between persons that produce a marriage license issued
under this part:
* * *
(7) An individual of a religious order, body or
institution authorized by the rules and customs of that
order, body or institution to perform a marriage ceremony.
* * *
SECTION 1. SECTION 1503(A) OF TITLE 23 OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
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CONSOLIDATED STATUTES IS AMENDED AND THE SECTION IS AMENDED BY
ADDING A SUBSECTION TO READ:
§ 1503. PERSONS QUALIFIED TO SOLEMNIZE MARRIAGES.
(A) GENERAL RULE.--THE FOLLOWING ARE AUTHORIZED TO SOLEMNIZE
MARRIAGES BETWEEN PERSONS THAT PRODUCE A MARRIAGE LICENSE ISSUED
UNDER THIS PART:
[(1) A JUSTICE, JUDGE OR MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGE OF
THIS COMMONWEALTH.
(2) A FORMER OR RETIRED JUSTICE, JUDGE OR MAGISTERIAL
DISTRICT JUDGE OF THIS COMMONWEALTH WHO IS SERVING AS A
SENIOR JUDGE OR SENIOR MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGE AS PROVIDED
OR PRESCRIBED BY LAW; OR NOT SERVING AS A SENIOR JUDGE OR
SENIOR MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGE BUT MEETS THE FOLLOWING
CRITERIA:
(I) HAS SERVED AS A MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGE,
JUDGE OR JUSTICE, WHETHER OR NOT CONTINUOUSLY OR ON THE
SAME COURT, BY ELECTION OR APPOINTMENT FOR AN AGGREGATE
PERIOD EQUALING A FULL TERM OF OFFICE;
(II) HAS NOT BEEN DEFEATED FOR REELECTION OR
RETENTION;
(III) HAS NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF, PLEADED NOLO
CONTENDERE TO OR AGREED TO AN ACCELERATED REHABILITATIVE
DISPOSITION OR OTHER PROBATION WITHOUT VERDICT PROGRAM
RELATIVE TO ANY MISDEMEANOR OR FELONY OFFENSE UNDER THE
LAWS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH OR AN EQUIVALENT OFFENSE UNDER
THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OR ONE OF ITS TERRITORIES
OR POSSESSIONS, ANOTHER STATE, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA,
THE COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO OR A FOREIGN NATION;
(IV) HAS NOT RESIGNED A JUDICIAL COMMISSION TO AVOID
HAVING CHARGES FILED OR TO AVOID PROSECUTION BY FEDERAL,
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STATE OR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES OR BY THE
JUDICIAL CONDUCT BOARD;
(V) HAS NOT BEEN REMOVED FROM OFFICE BY THE COURT OF
JUDICIAL DISCIPLINE; AND
(VI) IS A RESIDENT OF THIS COMMONWEALTH.
(3) AN ACTIVE OR SENIOR JUDGE OR FULL-TIME MAGISTRATE OF
THE DISTRICT COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE EASTERN,
MIDDLE OR WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA.
(3.1) AN ACTIVE, RETIRED OR SENIOR BANKRUPTCY JUDGE OF
THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURTS FOR THE EASTERN, MIDDLE
OR WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA WHO IS A RESIDENT OF THIS
COMMONWEALTH.
(4) AN ACTIVE, RETIRED OR SENIOR JUDGE OF THE UNITED
STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT WHO IS A
RESIDENT OF THIS COMMONWEALTH.
(5) A MAYOR OF ANY CITY OR BOROUGH OF THIS COMMONWEALTH.
(5.1) A FORMER MAYOR OF A CITY OR BOROUGH OF THIS
COMMONWEALTH WHO:
(I) HAS NOT BEEN DEFEATED FOR REELECTION;
(II) HAS NOT BEEN CONVICTED OF, PLEADED NOLO
CONTENDERE TO OR AGREED TO AN ACCELERATED REHABILITATIVE
DISPOSITION OR OTHER PROBATION WITHOUT VERDICT PROGRAM
RELATIVE TO A MISDEMEANOR OR FELONY OFFENSE UNDER THE
LAWS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH OR AN EQUIVALENT OFFENSE UNDER
THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES OR ANY ONE OF ITS
POSSESSIONS, ANOTHER STATE, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, THE
COMMONWEALTH OF PUERTO RICO OR A FOREIGN NATION;
(III) HAS NOT RESIGNED THE POSITION OF MAYOR TO
AVOID HAVING CHARGES FILED OR TO AVOID PROSECUTION BY
FEDERAL, STATE OR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES;
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(IV) HAS SERVED AS A MAYOR, WHETHER CONTINUOUSLY OR
NOT, BY ELECTION FOR AN AGGREGATE OF A FULL TERM IN
OFFICE; AND
(V) IS A RESIDENT OF THIS COMMONWEALTH.
(6) A MINISTER, PRIEST OR RABBI OF ANY REGULARLY
ESTABLISHED CHURCH OR CONGREGATION.]
(1) AN ACTIVE OR FORMER GOVERNOR OR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
(2) AN ACTIVE OR FORMER MEMBER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
(3) AN ACTIVE OR FORMER JUSTICE, JUDGE OR MAGISTERIAL
DISTRICT JUDGE OF THIS COMMONWEALTH.
(4) AN ACTIVE, RETIRED OR SENIOR JUDGE OR FULL-TIME
MAGISTRATE OF THE DISTRICT COURTS OF THE UNITED STATES FOR
THE EASTERN, MIDDLE OR WESTERN DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA.
(5) AN ACTIVE, RETIRED OR SENIOR BANKRUPTCY JUDGE OF THE
UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COUR