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HR 43

recognizing the Manchester school district's community partners.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Matt Wilhelm

HR 43 publicly affirms support for Obergefell v. Hodges, tying marriage rights to Equal Protection and Due Process, signaling a pro-equality stance without changing law.

Inexpedient to Legislate: MA VV 02/05/2026 HJ 3 P. 9
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Bill Summary · HR 43

Summary — HR 43: Resolution supporting Obergefell v. Hodges and reaffirming marriage principles

Status: Introduced August 18, 2025; referred to the Committee on Government Operations
Classification: House Resolution (non‑binding)
Introduced by (per document): Representative Jennifer Conlin (with multiple co-sponsors listed in the text)

Purpose and intent

HR 43 is a legislative resolution that formally expresses the chamber’s support for the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges and reaffirms that the constitutional, founding principles — including the separation of church and state and the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantees of equal protection and due process — underpin the right to marry. The resolution emphasizes individual liberty and religious liberty as protected constitutional principles.

Key provisions

  • States explicit support for the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges (which recognized same‑sex marriage as a constitutional right).
  • Reaffirms that marriage rights follow from founding constitutional principles (Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment) rather than a narrow historical or faith‑based definition.
  • Notes that state constitutional provisions (specifically citing Michigan’s Article I, Section 25 in the document) that limited marriage to “one man and one woman” conflict with federal constitutional protections upheld by Obergefell.
  • Declares that Obergefell protects individual liberty from state infringement and links that protection to broader constitutional order including religious liberty.
  • Directs that copies of the resolution be transmitted to legislative leadership and the Governor (specific recipients named in the text).

Who or what is affected

  • No change to statutory or constitutional law: as a resolution, HR 43 is a symbolic/expressive act by the legislative body rather than an enforceable law.
  • Intended audience includes state leaders, the public, and communities concerned with marriage equality (notably LGBTQ+ individuals and advocates).
  • May influence public debate, state policy posture, and communications from the legislature about marriage equality and related civil‑rights issues.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Introduced Aug 18, 2025 and currently referred to the Committee on Government Operations.
  • Because this is a resolution (not a bill amending statutes), its primary effect — if adopted — is a formal statement of the legislature’s position and an administrative transmission of copies to specified officials.

Practical impact

HR 43 affirms the legislature’s support for federally recognized marriage equality and frames that support in constitutional terms. It does not create new legal rights or change existing law, but it signals the chamber’s stance and can shape legislative and public discourse on marriage, civil rights, and the relationship between state constitutions and federal constitutional protections.

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

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