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SC H3488

SC H3488
Religious Freedom of Marriage Act


summary

Introduced
01/10/2023
In Committee
01/10/2023
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
05/09/2024

Introduced Session

125th General Assembly

Bill Summary

A bill to amend the South Carolina Code of Laws by enacting the "Religious Freedom of Marriage Act"; by adding Section 20-1-225 so as to require the selection of divorce grounds on the marriage license application and for other purposes; by amending Section 20-3-10, relating to Grounds for divorce, so as to require mutual application for a divorce based on the ground of living separate and apart and to make other related changes; by amending Section 16-3-658, relating to Criminal sexual conduct when the victim is a spouse, so as to change the exception related to purported marriages of minors; and by amending Section 20-1-100, relating to the Minimum age for a valid marriage, so as to apply also to out-of-state marriages.

AI Summary

This bill, the "Religious Freedom of Marriage Act," proposes several key changes to South Carolina's marriage and divorce laws. It requires couples applying for a marriage license to select the grounds for divorce they are willing to accept, allowing them to align those grounds with their religious beliefs or moral convictions. It also mandates mutual application for divorce based on the ground of living separately for one year, with exceptions for situations where one spouse is under severe stress and requires independent legal representation. Additionally, the bill raises the minimum age for a valid marriage from 14 to 16 years old, aligning common-law and out-of-state marriages. The overall aim is to provide greater flexibility and protection for individuals' religious freedom in the context of marriage and divorce.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

Referred to Committee on Judiciary (on 01/10/2023)

bill text


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