State

Year

Bill Number

Summary

Status

Arizona (See Article 10)

2000

HB 2199

$1 million dollars for marriage skills courses to be offered by community-based organizations; $75K to develop a healthy marriage handbook; $75K for vouchers for marriage skills classes for low-income couples; and $500K added to abstinence-until-marriage media campaign to target marriage preparation

Enacted

Colorado

2003

HJR 03-1064

Joint resolution concerning marriage and relationship skills education

Passed

Florida

1998

HB 1019

Requires relationship education in high schools; Reduces marriage license fee for those who take a premarital education course; Requires a waiting period before marriage; and Provides for creation of marriage law handbook.

Enacted

Florida

2003

SB 480

Creates the Commission on Marriage and Family Support Initiatives

Enacted

Illinois

2001

SB 24

Requires couples seeking a marriage license to participate in at least 4 hours of premarital education.

Died in committee

Michigan

2004

HB 5467

Encourages premarital education or counseling; Allows a clergy member to continue to legally offer marriage counseling after retirement; Provides a marriage preservation tax credit; Promotes divorce effects education programs; and requires parenting plans in divorce situations.

Introduced

Minnesota

2004

SF 1841

Increases the marriage license fee by $5 for the Minnesota Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Initiative; Requires counties to report how many reduced fee marriage licenses are granted.

Introduced

New Hampshire

2002

HB 1299

Establishes committee to study the creation of marriage education and enhancement program.

Enacted