SENATE COMMUNITY AND URBAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 4104

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  NOVEMBER 10, 2025

      The Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Senate Bill No. 4104.

     As amended and reported, this bill expands the list of public officials that may perform marriages or civil union ceremonies to include deputy county clerks and municipal clerks.

     Currently, the public officials that may perform ceremonies include: judges (the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, any federal district court, United States magistrate, municipal court, Superior Court, Tax Court, and administrative law); retired judges (Superior Court, Tax Court, and administrative law); former judges of courts that are no longer in existence, who resigned in good standing (the former County Court, the former County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court, or the former County District Court); surrogates of any county; county clerks; and any mayor or former mayor not currently serving on the municipal governing body or the deputy mayor when authorized by the mayor; or chairman of any township committee or village president of this State.  Certain individuals who are not public officials may also solemnize marriages and civil unions.

      As amended and reported by the committee, Senate Bill No. 4104 is identical to Assembly Bill No. 583 (1R), as was also reported by the committee on this date.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to add municipal clerks as individuals that may perform marriages or civil union ceremonies.  The committee also amended the title and synopsis of the bill to reflect those changes.