The Justice of the Peace Association has highlighted key points of HB7150, An Act Concerning Justices of the Peace. In addition, the unauthenticated bill language, which was released on March 5, 2025, is below with key provisions relating to JPs that perform marriages highlighted. Key Points of HB7150: “Official misconduct” is defined. An investigation and consequences are established for misconduct. JPs are liable for damages due to misconduct; Employers (not couples) are liable to persons and/or JPs for JP misconduct if it was at the employer’s direction. JPs must pass a written exam No one to use JP title to […]
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VT Action Alert – Child Marriage
CALL TO ACTION in VERMONT End Child Marriage Ask the YOUR REPRESENTATIVE to Vote YES on H 148 Please take a few minutes to email or call your Representative and ask them to vote YES on H 148 Raising the Age of Marriage to 18. The House Committee on Judiciary is meeting on Thursday, February 16, 2023. There is no need for 16 & 17 year old children to marry – this isn’t about maturity, it is about legal rights. A child cannot retain an attorney, access domestic violence shelters, or sign a lease on a rental. New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey have already passed legislation making the age of marriage […]
Officiant Survey – JP Appointment Process
In 2022, the Justice of the Peace Association released a survey to support its research on the qualifications of civil officiants and the way they are appointed. One hundred seventy-eight people answered our survey. Minimum Qualifications Only five percent of survey respondents thought that marriage officiants should not have any minimum qualifications to perform a marriage ceremony. All others thought officiants should meet certain qualifications. 86% think officiants should take an oath of office. 79% want a criminal background check or other means to verify the officiant is of good character. 63% believe training is needed before becoming an officiant. […]
Intentionally Inclusive Interviewing
Intentionally Inclusive Interviewing for Marriage Officiants: Recognizing and Respecting Diversity This training provides marriage officiants a framework to better understand and prioritize their clients’ identities and experiences. This will improve officiants’ interactions with couples and their wedding guests, leaving all parties feeling more empowered and included. This webinar includes examples that depict a variety of scenarios in which unconscious bias may occur and its impact on connections. Learning Objectives Define unconscious bias and the many forms it can take. Increase awareness of your own perspective, and how that perspective might influence relationship building, the ceremony, and the couple’s and guests’ […]
Press Releases: 3/1/2021
Virtual Conference for Marriage Officiants on March 13, 2021 In anticipation of the Justice of the Peace Association’s Virtual Conference on March 13, 2021, JPus sent out variations of a press release highlighting member and speakers at the event. Following is a compilation of some that received attention. The Hartford Courant: March 5, 2021 Justices of the Peace gathering virtually for conference STATEWIDE — Justices of the Peace will be gathering virtually on March 13 to boost their ceremony-performing skills and keep up with policies impacting their services. The Fairfield based Justice of the Peace Association is hosting the conference, […]
MA Legislative Poll 2021
We are thrilled that Senator Anne Gobi is taking the lead and resubmitting the Resolve to Evaluate the One-Day Solemnizer Rule. In addition, she is also submitting two Bills that support JPs. Before doing this, she asked Massachusetts JPus members to weigh in. These are the poll results. 100% of the Massachusetts JPs who responded to our poll would like to have the fees they may charge increased. 93% of the JPs who responded to our poll would like the application fees for 1-Day Solemnizers increased. Comments provided by survey respondents, edited for clarity & length Thank you […]
Union Leader: 7/17/2020
The following op-ed was published in the New Hampshire Union Leader on July 17, 2020. It calls for Governor Sununu to issue an executive order to undo the temporary marriage officiant authorization. Loretta Jay: Amendment undermines marriages… literally ON THE second to last day of the session, the New Hampshire Senate tacked an unrelated amendment onto a guaranteed-to-pass bill. This move, done without notifying constituents, gives anyone temporary authorization to officiate a marriage. This will increase the risk of coronavirus spread. The House passed the bill the next day. New Hampshire needs Governor Sununu to step in and halt this […]
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