To amend sections 3101.08, 3101.10, 3101.11, and 3101.12 of the Revised Code to allow any person or entity that registers with the secretary of state to solemnize marriages.

Section 1. That sections 3101.08, 3101.10, 3101.11, and 3101.12 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 3101.08.  An ordained or licensed minister of any religious society or congregation within this state who is licensed to solemnize marriages, a judge of a county court in accordance with section 1907.18 of the Revised Code, a judge of a municipal court in accordance with section 1901.14 of the Revised Code, a probate judge in accordance with section 2101.27 of the Revised Code, the mayor of a municipal corporation in any county in which such municipal corporation wholly or partly lies, the superintendent of the state school for the deaf, or any religious society in conformity with the rules of its church, The following persons or entities may join together as husband and wife any persons who are not prohibited by law from being joined in marriage.:

(A) An ordained or licensed minister of any religious society or congregation within this state who is licensed to solemnize marriages;

(B) A judge of a county court in accordance with section 1907.18 of the Revised Code;

(C) A judge of a municipal court in accordance with section 1901.14 of the Revised Code;

(D) A probate judge in accordance with section 2101.27 of the Revised Code;

(E) The mayor of a municipal corporation in any county in which such municipal corporation wholly or partly lies;

(F) The superintendent of the state school for the deaf;

(G) Any religious society in conformity with the rules of its church;

(H) Any other person or entity that has registered to solemnize marriages with the secretary of state.

Sec. 3101.10.  (A) A minister upon producing to the secretary of state, credentials of the minister's being a regularly ordained or licensed minister of any religious society or congregation, shall be entitled to receive from the secretary of state a license authorizing the minister to solemnize marriages in this state so long as the minister continues as a regular minister in that society or congregation. A minister shall produce for inspection the minister's license to solemnize marriages upon demand of any party to a marriage at which the minister officiates or proposes to officiate or upon demand of any probate judge.

(B) Any other person or entity that wishes to solemnize marriages shall register with the secretary of state and the secretary of state shall issue a license authorizing the person or entity to solemnize marriages in this state. The person shall produce for inspection the person's license to solemnize marriages or, if applicable, the license of the entity on behalf of which the person is solemnizing marriages, upon demand of any party to a marriage at which the person officiates or proposes to officiate or upon demand of any probate judge.

Sec. 3101.11.  The secretary of state shall enter the name of a minister licensed to solemnize marriages or any other person or entity that registered with the secretary of state under section 3101.10 of the Revised Code and is licensed to solemnize marriages upon a record kept in the office of the secretary of state.

Sec. 3101.12.  When the name of a minister licensed to solemnized solemnize marriages or the name of any other person or entity that registered with the secretary of state under section 3101.10 of the Revised Code and is licensed to solemnize marriages is entered upon the record by the secretary of state, such record and the license issued under section 3101.10 of the Revised Code shall be evidence that such minister, person, or entity is authorized to solemnize marriages in this state.

Section 2.  That existing sections 3101.08, 3101.10, 3101.11, and 3101.12 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.