117-hr-8404117th Congress

Respect for Marriage Act

Sponsored By: Representative Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]

Became Law

Summary

Nationwide federal recognition of marriages between two individuals. This law repeals the Defense of Marriage Act and creates a federal rule that recognizes valid two-person marriages for federal purposes while preserving religious conscience protections.

Show full summary

Couples and families: Federal agencies must treat a marriage between two people as valid if it was valid where it was entered. The law also bars federal recognition of polygamous marriages.
Religious organizations and providers: The law affirms religious liberty and allows religious organizations and persons to refuse to provide services for the solemnization or celebration of a marriage without creating civil claims.
States, territories, and enforcement: "State" is defined to include the District of Columbia and listed territories like Puerto Rico, and validity is generally based on the law where the marriage was entered. The Attorney General can bring civil actions and individuals harmed by denial of recognition have a private right of action for relief.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

All states must honor valid marriages

If your two-person marriage was valid where you married, the federal government treats you as married. State and local officials must honor marriages from other states, no matter the spouses’ sex, race, ethnicity, or national origin. The law repeals the old DOMA non-recognition rule. The Attorney General and people who are harmed can sue to stop violations. This applies now.

Religious groups can decline wedding services

Nonprofit religious groups and their employees do not have to provide services for a wedding or celebration. Saying no does not create a civil claim under this law. Broader religious-liberty rights under the Constitution and federal law still apply. This applies now.

Two-person marriage rule and non-marriage benefits unchanged

The law recognizes only marriages between two people. Polygamous marriages do not get federal marriage benefits. It also does not change any benefit or status that does not come from marriage, like tax-exempt status, grants, loans, scholarships, licenses, or accreditation. This applies now.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]

NY • D

Cosponsors

Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1]
RI • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]
KS • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Jones, Mondaire [D-NY-17]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Maloney, Sean Patrick [D-NY-18]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
WI • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]
MN • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]
NH • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Jeffries, Hakeem S. [D-NY-8]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
WA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Brown, Anthony G. [D-MD-4]
MD • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Cooper, Jim [D-TN-5]
TN • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-47]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
LA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
CT • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-22]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
MO • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]
GA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Trone, David J. [D-MD-6]
MD • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Bowman, Jamaal [D-NY-16]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
MA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Kuster, Ann M. [D-NH-2]
NH • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
ME • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ]
AZ • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]
VT • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Langevin, James R. [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Bustos, Cheri [D-IL-17]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Higgins, Brian [D-NY-26]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Sarbanes, John P. [D-MD-3]
MD • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Lawrence, Brenda L. [D-MI-14]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]
NV • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Kahele, Kaiali'i [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
WA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]
MD • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3]
OR • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]
NM • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4]
MA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
GA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]
NC • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7]
AZ • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2]
PA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]
OH • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Axne, Cynthia [D-IA-3]
IA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6]
WA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]
CO • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. McEachin, A. Donald [D-VA-4]
VA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4]
CT • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Lawson, Al, Jr. [D-FL-5]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Cárdenas, Tony [D-CA-29]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-33]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Yarmuth, John A. [D-KY-3]
KY • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-8]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Levin, Andy [D-MI-9]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Doyle, Michael F. [D-PA-18]
PA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Crist, Charlie [D-FL-13]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]
AZ • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4]
MN • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [D-NJ-9]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
WA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Kirkpatrick, Ann [D-AZ-1]
AZ • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-31]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]
DE • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Allred, Colin Z. [D-TX-32]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]
CO • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
WI • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4]
OR • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
TN • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Spanberger, Abigail Davis [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Phillips, Dean [D-MN-3]
MN • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
VA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]
IN • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. McNerney, Jerry [D-CA-9]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]
AL • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
WA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3]
MA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9]
MA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Murphy, Stephanie N. [D-FL-7]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Clark, Katherine M. [D-MA-5]
MA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]
NM • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Perlmutter, Ed [D-CO-7]
CO • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-16]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
PA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Malinowski, Tom [D-NJ-7]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Wild, Susan [D-PA-7]
PA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]
MD • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]
VA • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Sen. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/18/2022
Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Manning, Kathy E. [D-NC-6]
NC • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13]
OH • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Wexton, Jennifer [D-VA-10]
VA • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8]
WA • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
OR • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]
MA • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. O'Halleran, Tom [D-AZ-1]
AZ • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-8]
PA • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Price, David E. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
CT • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Lamb, Conor [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Sires, Albio [D-NJ-8]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Butterfield, G. K. [D-NC-1]
NC • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Demings, Val Butler [D-FL-10]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Bourdeaux, Carolyn [D-GA-7]
GA • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1]
MA • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Newman, Marie [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022
Rep. Luria, Elaine G. [D-VA-2]
VA • D
Sponsored 7/19/2022

Roll Call Votes

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Back to Legislation

Respect for Marriage Act

Summary

How does this bill affect your finances?

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

High Impact

All states must honor valid marriages

Low Impact

Religious groups can decline wedding services

Two-person marriage rule and non-marriage benefits unchanged

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cosponsors

Roll Call Votes

Related Bills

Live Policy Activity

Not In My Barn Yard Act

Other Activity On This Topic

DOL Rewrites Disability Rules for 'Merit-Based Opportunity' Push

How These Connect

Deep Dive

Federal Debt & the Debt Ceiling

Commercial Space Launch & Regulation

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Live Policy Activity

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DOL Rewrites Disability Rules for 'Merit-Based Opportunity' Push

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