Bill > HF1054

This bill, titled "Civil marriage between two persons, exemptions, and protections based on religious association provided," fundamentally redefines marriage in Minnesota to be a civil contract between two persons, regardless of sex, and makes several related changes to state law. It amends existing statutes to allow religious organizations, associations, or societies to refuse to provide goods or services related to the solemnization or celebration of a civil marriage if doing so would violate their sincerely held religious beliefs, while also clarifying that this exemption does not apply to secular business activities. The bill also updates the definition of marriage to include same-sex couples, removes gender-specific language from marriage-related statutes, and ensures that gender-neutral terms are used when referring to spouses and parents in the context of civil marriage. Additionally, it establishes provisions for the dissolution of marriages for non-residents if the marriage occurred in Minnesota and the couple's home jurisdiction would not allow dissolution due to the sex or sexual orientation of the spouses, and directs the revisor of statutes to update terminology throughout chapter 517 to reflect the new definition of civil marriage.