Letter of Support to End Child Marriage The Justice of the Peace Association submitted a letter of support to the House Judiciary Committee for H148, a bill to end child marriage in Vermont. Related Links Vermont’s child marriage history and legislative activity See the learning objectives and link to he recording of our Vermont workshop about child marriage Take JPus’ training for marriage officiants about child and forced marriage. Read about JPus’ efforts to end child marriage in all of the states we serve. Learn about JPus members’ vote to join the Coalition to End Child Marriage. Learn more about our partners, Unchained at Last and Tahirih Justice Center, […]

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 […]

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 […]