Signed by Governor Lincoln Chafee

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that authorizes same-sex marriage, effective immediately.

Highlights:

• Defines “marriage” as the legally recognized union of 2 individuals (Sec. 2). 

• Requires terms in state law relating to marriage to be gender-neutral (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes couples in legal unions, which were validly entered in another state or jurisdiction and which provide the same rights, benefits, and responsibilities as marriage, to obtain a valid marriage license in Rhode Island (Sec. 2). 

• Prohibits licensed or ordained officials of any church or religious denomination from being required to solemnize any marriage (Sec. 4). 

• Specifies that licensed or ordained officials of any church or religious denomination are immune from any lawsuit and may not be found liable based on a refusal to solemnize any marriage (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that any civil union between 2 individuals which has not been dissolved, annulled, or merged into marriage by January 1, 2014, will automatically be merged into a marriage on that date (Sec. 5).

• Repeals previous laws relating to civil unions (Sec. 6).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that authorizes same-sex marriage, effective immediately.

Highlights:

• Defines “marriage” as the legally recognized union of 2 individuals (Sec. 2). 

• Requires terms in state law relating to marriage to be gender-neutral (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes couples in legal unions, which were validly entered in another state or jurisdiction and which provide the same rights, benefits, and responsibilities as marriage, to obtain a valid marriage license in Rhode Island (Sec. 2). 

• Prohibits licensed or ordained officials of any church or religious denomination from being required to solemnize any marriage (Sec. 4). 

• Specifies that licensed or ordained officials of any church or religious denomination are immune from any lawsuit and may not be found liable based on a refusal to solemnize any marriage (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that any civil union between 2 individuals which has not been dissolved, annulled, or merged into marriage by January 1, 2014, will automatically be merged into a marriage on that date (Sec. 5).

• Repeals previous laws relating to civil unions (Sec. 6).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes same-sex marriage, effective immediately.

Highlights:

• Defines “marriage” as the legally recognized union of 2 individuals (Sec. 2). 

• Requires terms in state law relating to marriage to be gender-neutral (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes couples in legal unions, which were validly entered in another state or jurisdiction and which provide the same rights, benefits, and responsibilities as marriage, to obtain a valid marriage license in Rhode Island (Sec. 2). 

• Prohibits licensed or ordained officials of any church or religious denomination from being required to solemnize any marriage (Sec. 4). 

• Specifies that licensed or ordained officials of any church or religious denomination are immune from any lawsuit and may not be found liable based on a refusal to solemnize any marriage (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that any civil union between 2 individuals which has not been dissolved, annulled, or merged into marriage by January 1, 2014, will automatically be merged into a marriage on that date (Sec. 5).

• Repeals previous laws relating to civil unions (Sec. 6).

Full Bill Text