Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Civil Rights & Judiciary Committee
HB 2261
Brief Description: Concerning marriage licensing and solemnization by county auditors.
Sponsors: Representatives Leavitt, Chambers, Orwall, Appleton, Doglio, Pollet, Kilduff, Shewmake, Wylie and Hudgins.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Authorizes county auditors to solemnize marriages.
  • Requires county auditors to issue marriage licenses at the time of application, and
    removes the three-day waiting period to use a marriage license.
  • Provides that any fee charged by a county auditor for the solemnization of marriage conducted in a county-owned facility must be fixed by the county legislativeauthority and deposited into an account to be used solely for the purpose of funding
    behavioral health service programs for veterans.
Hearing Date: 1/14/20
Staff: Ingrid Lewis (786-7289).
Background: After being issued a marriage license, the parties must have their marriage solemnized within 60
days or the license is void. There is no particular form required for the solemnization of a
marriage, except that the parties are required to assent to the marriage in the presence of an
authorized person and at least two attending witnesses. 
Active or retired justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the courts of appeals, judges of the
superior courts, Supreme Court commissioners, courts of appeals' commissioners, superior
courts' commissioners, commissioners of courts of limited jurisdiction, judges of tribal courts
from federally recognized tribes, and any regularly licensed or ordained minister or any priest,
imam, rabbi, or similar official of any religious organization are all authorized to solemnize
marriages in Washington. HRC HDC

More words More words
Summary of Bill: County auditors are authorized to solemnize marriages.
A county auditor is required to issue a marriage license at the time of a license application, and
the mandated three-day waiting period to use a marriage license is removed.
Any fee charged for the solemnization of a marriage conducted by a county auditor in a county owned facility must be fixed by the county legislative authority. Any proceeds from this fee
must be deposited and maintained in a separate dedicated account to be used solely for the
purpose of funding behavioral health services programs for veterans
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Preliminary fiscal note available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.