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S 4104

Relates to eligibility under the green building tax credit

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Kevin Parker

Expands authority to solemnize marriages and civil unions to deputy county clerks and municipal clerks, boosting local access with immediate effect.

REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS
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Bill Summary · S 4104

Summary — S 4104 (as reported by Senate Community & Urban Affairs Committee, 11/10/2025)

Status: Referred to Investigations and Government Operations; reported out of Senate Community & Urban Affairs Committee with amendments (11/10/2025).
Introduced: February 3, 2025.
Statute amended: R.S.37:1-13.
Effective date: Immediately upon enactment.
Note: The bill text and committee statement concern authorization of marriage/civil union officiants. (The bill header supplied in the request referencing a “green building tax credit” appears to be incorrect or unrelated to the document content.)

Main purpose

To expand the list of public officials authorized to solemnize marriages and civil unions in New Jersey by explicitly permitting deputy county clerks and municipal clerks to perform those ceremonies.

Key provisions

  • Amends R.S.37:1-13 to add:
    • “deputy county clerk” to the list of county officials authorized to solemnize marriages and civil unions (in addition to county clerks and surrogates).
    • “municipal clerks” to the list of public officials authorized to solemnize marriages and civil unions (this addition was made by committee amendment).
  • Retains the existing, broader list of authorized officiants (federal and state judges, retired judges, certain former judges, surrogates, county clerks, mayors/former mayors as specified, township committee chairs/village presidents, clergy, and certified civil celebrants).
  • Leaves unchanged the civil celebrant certification mechanism administered by the Secretary of State (eligibility criteria, training/course requirements, application fee range $50–$75, and revocation process).

Who is affected

  • Deputy county clerks and municipal clerks: gain explicit statutory authority to solemnize marriages and civil unions.
  • Couples seeking to be married or enter into a civil union: may have increased access to officiants (particularly at local clerk offices or county clerk offices).
  • County and municipal clerk offices: potential operational impacts (scheduling, staffing, training, and ceremonial duties).
  • Secretary of State and civil celebrant program: unchanged by this measure.

Procedural/timeline notes

  • Introduced in the Senate on 2/3/2025 and originally referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee; later transferred to the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.
  • Committee reported the bill with amendments on 11/10/2025 (adding municipal clerks) and noted the bill is identical to Assembly Bill A583 (1R).
  • Multiple related/prior-session bills address similar topics (listed as companions/priors in the legislative record).
  • The act provides that it takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Potential impacts (practical considerations)

  • Likely increases convenience and access for couples by broadening who may officiate within county and municipal offices.
  • Could require local clerks’ offices to establish procedures for conducting ceremonies (hours, staff availability, training or guidelines), though the bill does not impose new training or fee requirements on clerks.
  • No fiscal analysis included in the committee statement; expected fiscal impact is minimal unless local governments opt to expand ceremonial services.

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

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