Bill > SB228

This bill creates the Covenant Marriage Act of Oklahoma, which establishes a voluntary marriage framework that emphasizes marriage as a lifelong commitment. Couples choosing a covenant marriage must sign a detailed Declaration of Intent affirming their commitment, undergo premarital counseling, and agree to more stringent divorce requirements. The declaration requires couples to state that marriage is a lifelong covenant made before God, that they have carefully chosen each other and disclosed potential marital challenges, and that they commit to preserving their marriage through counseling if difficulties arise. To obtain a covenant marriage license, couples must complete these steps and file the declaration with the county clerk. Existing marriages can also be converted to covenant marriages with mutual spousal agreement. Divorce in a covenant marriage is only permitted under limited circumstances, including abandonment, abuse, or adultery, and mandatory counseling is required before divorce proceedings, except in cases of abuse. As an incentive, the bill provides a tax credit of $2,500 for jointly filing taxpayers or $1,250 for separately filing spouses who obtain a covenant marriage license, with the credit able to be carried forward for up to five subsequent tax years. The act will become effective on July 1, 2025, with an emergency clause emphasizing its immediate importance to public welfare.