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Senate Bill 1140 of 2012

Writing the Vows for New CA Marriage Law

Some bill research does not include the Governor's file because at the time we researched the bill, the sitting Governor had not released his chaptered bill file. If the Governor's file is not included with this particular research, please contact our office (1-530-666-1917 or quote@legintent.com) and we will be happy to provide this file at no charge if it is available. Please Note: Governor files did not exist prior to 1943.

SB 1140, authored by Senator Leno, is one of the many bills to become effective in California as of yesterday, January 1, 2013. This bill amends Family Code section 400 by providing that “marriage is a personal relation arising out of a civil, and not religious, contract” and that an “authorized person of religious denomination” (i.e. priest, rabbi, etc.) will not be “required to solemnize a marriage that is contrary to…his or her faith.1” The law applies to such “authorized” persons who are 18 years or older, and will not affect any tax exemptions of those refusing to solemnize a marriage. Opposed by organizations, such as the California Catholic Conference and supported by the California Council of Churches IMPACT, this bill was approved by Governor Brown on September 30, 2012.

1. Senate Rules Committee, Office of Senate Floor Analyses Third Reading Analysis, Senate Bill 1140, as amended August 28, 2012; accessed via http://www.leginfo.ca.gov.