Bill to end marriage licenses in Alabama advances

A House committee Wednesday advanced a bill that would end marriage licenses in Alabama, legislation that has been filed every year since same-sex marriage became legal in the state.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Greg Albritton, R-Atmore, passed the House Judiciary Committee on a mostly party-line vote of 9 to 5. It would replace marriage licenses in the state with “affidavits, forms and data” filed with the local probate judge acknowledging that a marriage has taken place.

Speaking before the committee Wednesday, Albritton repeated arguments he has made for years that the bill is intended to allow marriages to take place in counties where probate judges have moral objections to same-sex marriage.

"It takes discretion away from local judges, so when forms are provided it establishes marriage," he said. "It takes away from the judge the 'yes or no' on who can get married."

Read more: http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/politics/southunionstreet/2018/01/24/bill-end-marriage-licenses-alabama-advances/1062163001/