This bill amends section 741.07 of the Florida Statutes to authorize members of the Legislature to solemnize marriages, alongside other ordained clergy, judicial officers, clerks of the circuit courts, and notaries public. The amendment replaces the phrase "some church" with "a" and adds "members of the Legislature" to the list of individuals authorized to perform marriage ceremonies. Additionally, the bill clarifies that the amendment does not invalidate any marriages solemnized by clergy or as otherwise provided by law prior to July 1, 1978.

The bill also reenacts sections 741.08 and 741.10 to incorporate the changes made to section 741.07. Section 741.08 outlines the requirement for a marriage license before solemnization and the obligation to certify the marriage within ten days. Section 741.10 provides a process for proving a marriage when a certificate is unavailable, allowing for an affidavit from two witnesses to be filed in lieu of the certificate. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 580 Filed: 741.07