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New Hampshire
Key Vote
Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage
Project Vote Smart's Synopsis:
Vote to pass a bill that amends existing statutes related to marriage by specifying that it is a legally recognized union of two people, provided that they meet the existing eligibility requirements beginning January 1, 2010, thereby eliminating the prohibition against same-sex marriage.
Official Title of Legislation:
HB 436: An Act relative to civil marriage and civil unions.
Highlights:
- Limits eligibility for same-sex marriages to individuals that are 18 years of age or older, as opposed to the age restriction on heterosexual marriage of 14 for males and 13 for females (Sec. 2).
- Specifies that individuals licensed to solemnize marriages are authorized to refuse to solemnize any particular civil marriage in violation of their religious or free expression rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and New Hampshire Constitution (Sec. 4).
- Retains existing prohibitions against marrying one's father, mother, father's brother, father's sister, mother's brother, mother's sister, son, daughter, brother, sister, son's son, son's daughter, daughter's son, daughter's daughter, brother's son, brother's daughter, sister's son, sister's daughter, father's brother's son, father's brother's daughter, mother's brother's son, mother's brother's daughter, father's sister's son, father's sister's daughter, mother's sister's son, or mother's sister's daughter (Sec. 2).
- Specifies that marriages legally contracted outside of the State of New Hampshire, including same-sex marriages, shall be recognized by the state of New Hampshire as a legitimate marriage once the contracting parties become permanent residents of the state (Sec. 2)
Full Text of Legislation (PDF Document)
House Passage: 03/26/2009 : Bill Passed: 186 - 179 (Roll no. 80) Senate Passage With Amendment: 04/29/2009 : Bill Passed 13 - 11 (Roll no. 54) House Concurrence Vote: 05/06/2009 : Concurrence Vote Passed 178 - 167 (Roll no. 148) Governor Passage: 06/04/2009 : Signed
Sponsor: Rep. Splaine, James
Cosponsors:
PVS provides summaries for each version of the bill selected as a key vote. The summary does not necessarily reflect the final version of the bill. For further status information, call the Voter's Research Hotline at 1-888-VOTE-SMART (1-888-868-3762).
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