STAND. COM. REP. NO. 672-20

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2020

RE: H.B. No. 2127

H.D. 1

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2020

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 2127 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO LICENSING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to broaden who may solemnize marriage by authorizing the issuance of temporary licenses and allowing this rite to be performed by persons without regard to religion.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the LGBT Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from one individual. Your Committee received comments on this measure from the Department of Health and one individual.

Your Committee finds that the right to marry belongs to citizens without regard to their particular moral beliefs or religious creed. Your Committee further finds that existing state law requires a marriage officiant to be affiliated with or ordained by a religious denomination or society. Your Committee believes that this requirement undermines the neutrality of marriage law.

Your Committee has amended this measure by repealing the statutory requirement that a marriage must be solemnized.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2127, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 2127, H.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Finance.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

____________________________

CHRIS LEE, Chair