House Bill 315 introduces the "Tennessee Covenant Marriage Act," which establishes a new type of marriage known as a covenant marriage. This type of marriage is defined as a lifelong commitment between one male and one female, requiring them to undergo premarital counseling that emphasizes the responsibilities and nature of marriage. Couples wishing to enter into a covenant marriage must declare their intent on their marriage license application and execute a declaration of intent, which includes a solemn statement about the nature of their commitment, an affidavit confirming they received counseling, and a notarized attestation from their counselor. The bill also outlines the specific grounds for divorce and legal separation for covenant marriages, which differ from those applicable to standard marriages.

Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to incorporate provisions related to covenant marriages, including the requirement for county clerks to indicate on marriage licenses whether the parties intend to enter into a covenant marriage. It also specifies that spouses in a covenant marriage cannot sue each other for certain causes unless legally separated and establishes that a legal separation does not dissolve the marriage bond. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and mandates the creation of an informational pamphlet to educate potential couples about the implications of entering into a covenant marriage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 36-3-103, 36-3-104, 36-4-101(a), 36-4-101, 36-4-102