This bill amends Iowa's marriage laws to establish that any party who meets the requirements for a valid marriage is eligible to marry any other such party, regardless of gender. It removes previous language that restricted valid marriages to only those between a male and a female. Additionally, the bill clarifies that a marriage is valid only if both parties are eighteen years of age or older, with provisions for underage parties to marry under certain conditions, including parental consent and judicial approval.

Furthermore, the bill updates the definitions of void marriages to be gender-neutral, replacing specific references to "man" and "woman" with terms like "party" and "spouse." It also introduces a new section that codifies marriage as the legally recognized union of two eligible parties, ensuring that all terms related to marital and familial relationships are interpreted consistently across various legal contexts. This comprehensive update aims to modernize Iowa's marriage laws and promote inclusivity.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 595.2, 595.19