Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight On October 1, 2019, the Massachusetts Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight held a hearing on the Resolve to evaluate the One Day Solemnizer rule. This hearing was in response to JPus’ members concerns, conveyed through JPus’ January 2019 white paper. Senator Julian Cyr sponsored a Resolve to create a commission study on the One-Day Solemnizer rule. JPus and the Town Clerk Association would be members of the Commission. To be successful, JPs and town clerks will need to engage legislators. Call Committee Chairs and let them know you support the […]

The Justice of the Peace Association submitted written testimony in support of legislation to end child marriage in the state of Massachusetts. Related Links JPus’ End Child Marriage landing page Massachusetts-specific landing page for JPus’ efforts to end child marriage in the state Written testimony in support of legislation to end child marriage in Massachusetts was submitted on March 23, 2019, July 21, 2019 and November 20, 2019 (below). JPus’ Advocacy pages include efforts to end child marriage, respond to human trafficking, and preserve marriage equality. The organization also actively works to address the problems with lay officiants. November 20, 2019 testimony to the […]

Regulating Fees During the spring 2019 legislative session, Massachusetts Senator Sal DiDomenico submitted a bill, S1833, to increase the fees that justices of the peace are allowed to charge to officiate a wedding – from $100 to $120 for in-town ceremonies, and $150 to $180 for out-of-town. As far as we know, the Commonwealth is the only state that restricts fees this way. Related Links JPus’ white paper about 1-Day solemnizers speaks to the implications of regulating JP’s fees S 1831 establishes a commission study to evaluate the One-Day rule Other JPus advocacy JPus Statement of Support JPus is not in […]

The Justice of the Peace Association submitted written testimony in support of legislation to end child marriage in the state of Massachusetts. Related Links JPus’ End Child Marriage landing page Massachusetts landing page for JPus efforts to end child marriage Written testimony in support of legislation to end child marriage in Massachusetts was submitted on March 23, 2019 (below) July 21, 2019 and November 20, 2019. JPus’ Advocacy pages include efforts to end child marriage, respond to human trafficking, and preserve marriage equality. The organization also actively works to address the problems with lay officiants. March 23, 2019 testimony to the […]

This is a blow-by-blow account of how the Justice of the Peace Association responded to proposed legislation in Connecticut, SB-396, JP for a Day, as reported by managing member, Loretta Jay.  SB-396 JP for a Day It was late on Friday, March 2nd, when Barbara Jay received an email from Betsy Moukawsher, Groton, Connecticut’s Town Clerk, warning that a bill was introduced to the current legislative session. SB-396 said very simply that the Secretary of the State could appoint justices of the peace “to perform a single joining of persons in marriage”. The bill, coined JP for a Day, was […]

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 […]

In the 2021 session of the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Senator Anne Gobi sponsored a Resolve to evaluate the state’s temporary officiant rule. Previously, during the 2019 session, Senator Julian Cyr sponsored a similar Resolve.  Resolve S.2063 – 1-Day Solemnizers To form a special commission to investigate and study the effects of Massachusetts’s one-day solemnizer rule on JPs, 1-Day solemnizers, or people who have been married by either. Commission Members: The secretary of state or a designee, whom shall serve as chair of the special commission; One member of the senate, whom shall be appointed by the […]

In the spring of 2019, the Justice of the Peace Association persisted in its opposition to the New Hampshire House Bill 295-FN-A, an act establishing a special marriage officiant license. Despite the odds, the bill eventually died in conference. Following is what transpired. It was early January 2019 when New Hampshire Justice of the Peace Cynthia Dumont called JPus to alert us to HB 295-FN-A. This bill, if passed, would temporarily authorize an individual to solemnize a marriage in the state. JPus members in Massachusetts and Vermont made us aware of how amateur officiants have negatively impacted their business. The town clerks […]