Massachusetts Considers Exporting Licenses

Special Report - July 22, 2008
Senators in Massachusetts have passed a bill that would allow the state to issue marriage licenses to same-sex residents of other states. The bill would repeal a law that has been on the books since 1913 that effectively limits same-sex marriage to licenses issued in Massachusetts to residents of that state. The Massachusetts House is expected to consider the measure soon.

If the new bill is signed into law, Massachusetts would join California, which is currently the only state that issues marriage licenses to same-sex couples without regard to whether or not other states will recognize these licenses. California voters will vote on an amendment to their state constitution defining marriage as the union between one man and one woman. If this amendment passes, Massachusetts could potentially be the only state in the nation to issue same-sex marriage licenses to couples from other states, even if the couples’ home state does not recognize such licenses.

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