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PR26-0340 • 2025

Let Our Vows Endure Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Let Our Vows Endure Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Henderson
Last action
2025-10-24
Official status
Approved
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not mention specific provisions for temporary marriage officiants or a requirement for only one reading before becoming law.

Let Our Vows Endure Emergency Declaration

This resolution allows the Mayor to issue marriage licenses during a federal government shutdown when the Clerk of the Superior Court cannot do so.

What This Bill Does

  • Declares an emergency situation where the Mayor can issue marriage licenses.
  • Ensures that people who want to get married in the District of Columbia can still do so despite a federal government shutdown.

Who It Names or Affects

  • District of Columbia residents and others planning to marry in the city during a federal government shutdown.

Terms To Know

Emergency Declaration
A statement that declares an emergency situation, allowing special actions like issuing marriage licenses by the Mayor instead of the Clerk of the Superior Court.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The resolution only applies during specific periods of federal government shutdown.
  • It does not specify how long the emergency declaration will last or what happens after the shutdown ends.

Bill History

  1. 2025-10-24 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Resolution R26-0212, Effective from Oct 07, 2025 Published in DC Register Vol 72 and Page 011720

  2. 2025-10-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Retained by the Council

  3. 2025-10-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Legislative Meeting

  4. 2025-10-07 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    Approved with Resolution Number R26-0212

  5. 2025-10-06 Council of the District of Columbia LIMS

    PR26-0340 Introduced by Councilmember Henderson at Office of the Secretary

Official Summary Text

Let Our Vows Endure Emergency Declaration Resolution of 2025

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED ORIGINAL

1

A RESOLUTION

26-212

IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

October 7, 2025

To declare the existence of an emergency with respect to the need to amend An Act To establish a
code of law for the District of Columbia to authorize the Mayor to issue marriage licenses
and authorize temporary marriage officiants during a period of time when the Clerk of the
Superior Court of the District of Columbia is not issuing marriage licenses due to a
federal government shutdown.

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
resolution may be cited as the “Let Our V ows Endure Emergency Declaration Resolution of
2025”.

Sec. 2. (a) Under existing law, the issuance of marriage licenses is considered a non-
essential function of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia (“Superior Court”).
Therefore, in the instance of a federal government shutdown, the Clerk of the Superior Court
cannot issue marriage licenses.
(b) This feature of the District’s judicial system inconveniences District residents and
others who have planned or would have pursued a marriage during a federal government
shutdown.
(c) Given the existing federal government shutdown, emergency legislation is necessary
to allow the Mayor to issue marriage licenses during a federal government shutdown, so that
District residents and others who intend to celebrate their marriages in the District may proceed
with their plans despite the federal government’s status.

Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia determines that the circumstances
enumerated in section 2 constitute emergency circumstances making it necessary that the Let Our
V ows Endure Emergency Amendment Act of 2025 be adopted after a single reading.

Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.