Unanimous Vote Gives Confidence
Since 2022, JPus has been working to address problems with JP appointments and increase training requirements for marriage officiants. Pending legislation, HB5509, is the result of these efforts.
On April 8, 2026, Representative Kavros DeGraw fielded questions before the House of Representatives voted unanimously 144-0 to pass HB5509.
Afterwards, in an email, Representative Kavros DeGraw said she is hoping that the bill will be placed on the Senate’s “Consent Calendar” since it passed unanimously through the House.
Related Links
- The Justice of the Peace Association’s white paper
- The legislative backstory.
- In addition to testifying live before the Planning and Development Committee, in 2026 JPus submitted written testimony. We did this in 2025 as well, and in 2023. Each is a little different, but they all summarizes the problems.