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HD 1817

An Act respecting autonomy in name choice for newly married partners

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Tommy Vitolo

Summary of HD 1817: An Act respecting autonomy in name choice for newly married partners Bill OverviewHD 1817, titled "An Act respecting autonomy in name choice for newly married p

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Bill Summary · HD 1817

Summary of HD 1817: An Act respecting autonomy in name choice for newly married partners

Bill Overview

HD 1817, titled "An Act respecting autonomy in name choice for newly married partners", is a proposed bill that aims to provide greater flexibility and autonomy for individuals when choosing their name after marriage.

Key Provisions

The main components of this bill include:

  1. Name Choice Options: The bill would allow newly married partners to choose any surname they prefer after marriage, rather than being required to take the surname of their spouse. This would include options such as:

    • Retaining their pre-marriage surname
    • Hyphenating their surname with their spouse's surname
    • Adopting their spouse's surname
    • Creating a new combined surname

  2. No Automatic Name Change: The bill would eliminate the default assumption that a person must change their legal name to match their spouse's after marriage. Partners would have the choice to keep their pre-marriage name.

  3. Name Change Process: The bill outlines a simple, streamlined administrative process for newly married partners to indicate their preferred name choice. This would not require a legal name change filing.

Impact and Affected Parties

If enacted, this legislation would impact:

  • Newly married couples, by providing them greater autonomy in choosing their names after marriage
  • Government agencies that handle marriage licenses and name changes, who would need to update their processes
  • Businesses and organizations that handle identity documents, who would need to adapt to the new name change policies

Procedural Details

HD 1817 was introduced in the state legislature on November 29, 2025. It has been referred to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary for initial review and consideration. No timeline has been set yet for committee hearings or a potential floor vote.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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