Sen. McCaffrey, Rep. Kazarian to Introduce Legislation to Streamline Marriage Solemnizations, Remove Legislature from Process

 

STATE HOUSE — Senate Majority Leader Michael J. McCaffrey (D-Dist. 29, Warwick) and House Majority Whip Katherine S. Kazarian (D-Dist. 63, East Providence) plan to introduce legislation that would authorize the governor to designate any person to solemnize a marriage.

As it currently stands, only the General Assembly can authorize individuals to solemnize a marriage.

“It is an inconvenience to the people of Rhode Island that they need to seek a formal act of law just because they want a friend or family member to officiate at their wedding,” said Leader McCaffrey. “Votes and committee meetings are also a very inefficient way to handle what amounts to a clerical task. Getting married should be a joyous occasion, and there’s no reason the state needs to bog it down with red tape.”

The act would allow the governor to designate any person who is eligible to vote to solemnize a marriage within the state on a particular day and within a particular city or town. The authorization would expire upon completion of the marriage. A fee in the amount of $25 would be a prerequisite and would be payable to the secretary of state, or a fee of $20 for applications that are submitted electronically.

“This bill will modernize the process by placing it online and ensuring that it’s available to all Rhode Islanders year round,” said Whip Kazarian.  “Some time ago, I was contacted by a constituent in July about their nuptials scheduled for September.  Unfortunately, the General Assembly had already concluded its session for the year and there was no other alternative possible.  It broke my heart when I had to tell my constituent there was nothing I could do to ensure their perfect wedding with the officiant of their choice and this is why this legislation is needed to modernize our system in Rhode Island.”

President Trump is expressing condolences after recent flooding in central Texas. Trump got a close-up look at devastation in Kerrville today. During a roundtable discussion with local officials and first responders, Trump said he was there to express the anguish of the entire nation. Over 120 people are dead and many remain missing.        A farm worker is dead after an immigration raid at a Southern California cannabis farm Thursday. The United Farm Workers union announced the man's death on social media. The man's family says he fell 30 feet off a building, apparently trying to run from the ICE agents who were chasing him. The union says several other workers were critically injured during the raid in Ventura County.        President Trump is setting a 35-percent tariff on Canada. In a letter to Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump said that starting August 1st, a 35-percent tariff on Canadian products sent into the U.S. will be imposed. Trump said it comes as part of a response to "Canada's retaliation" and ongoing trade barriers.        The deputy director of the FBI is considering stepping down. Multiple reports say Dan Bongino has told people he is thinking about resigning after clashing with U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi over the Jeffrey Epstein files. Earlier this week, a memo stated there is no evidence that Epstein kept a so-called "client list." Bongino had been outspoken about the Epstein case in the past before he became FBI deputy director.        Pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil is calling for accountability after filing a claim against the Trump administration. Khalil's 20-million-dollar claim alleges false imprisonment and prosecution. The Trump administration is trying to deport Khalil after he helped organize pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia. He was arrested by ICE agents last March and held for months before being released in June.        Former presidential advisor David Gergen has passed away at age 83. The New York Times reports he died at a retirement community in Lexington, Massachusetts. Gergen began his White House career in the Nixon administration and also served under Presidents Ford, Reagan and then Bill Clinton. He also worked as a political commentator and was once the editor of U.S. News and World Report.