District of ColumbiaExpired law let mayor issue marriage licenses when federal shutdown stopped D.C. Superior Court clerk from issuing them
Before it expired, this temporary law let the D.C. mayor issue marriage licenses and authorize wedding officiants only while a federal shutdown stopped the D.C. Superior Court clerk from issuing licenses.
What it does
Until the temporary law expired, the mayor could issue D.C. marriage licenses and authorize people to perform weddings only while a federal shutdown stopped the D.C. Superior Court clerk from issuing licenses.
The mayor had to keep records of licenses it issued and certificates returned to it, then send copies to the D.C. Superior Court clerk within five business days of issuing or receiving them.
Argument forPeople seeking D.C. marriage licenses could have avoided a wait when a federal shutdown stopped the Superior Court clerk from issuing them.
Argument againstKeeping records and sending copies to the court clerk within five business days could have taken mayoral staff time.
More detail
The D.C. mayor could issue marriage licenses and authorize people to perform weddings. This covered D.C. marriage licenses and people authorized to perform weddings. A full or partial federal government shutdown had to stop the D.C. Superior Court clerk from issuing marriage licenses. The mayor's authority applied only during that halt. The law expired 225 days after taking effect.
The mayor had to keep marriage records and send copies to the D.C. Superior Court clerk. This covered licenses the mayor issued and marriage certificates returned to the mayor by people authorized to perform or witness weddings. The five-business-day deadline began when the mayor issued a license or received a certificate. The temporary law expired 225 days after taking effect.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jan 23Law L26-0076, Effective from Dec 31, 2025 Published in DC Register Vol 73 and Page 000609, Expires on Aug 13, 2026Latest
- 2025
- Nov 21Act A26-0194 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 012877
- Nov 17Transmitted to CongressMinor
- Nov 10Returned from Mayor
- Nov 10Signed by the Mayor and Enacted with Act Number A26-0194Became Law
- Oct 28Transmitted to Mayor, Response Due on Nov 12, 2025To Governor
- Oct 21Final Reading, CCMinor
- Vote recorded Final Reading, CC. Result: pass.Legislature
- Oct 10Notice of Intent to Act on B26-0393 Published in the District of Columbia Register
- Oct 7First ReadingMinor
- Vote recorded First Reading. Result: pass.Legislature
- Oct 7Retained by the Council
- Oct 6B26-0393 Introduced by Councilmember Henderson at Office of the SecretaryIntroduced
Government & EthicsCivil Rights & Voting