This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Without debate, members of the Utah Senate voted Monday to reject a bill that would raise the cost of a marriage license by $20.
Revenue from the additional fee would have been used to fund state efforts to promote healthy marriages and relationships. And couples would have the option of earning a $20 rebate, effectively negating the cost of the fee, by completing premarital training and counseling.
The bill, SB29, received a 17-12 vote when it was first heard in the Senate last week. But a final vote Monday split the chamber 14-14, a single vote short of passage with one member absent.
Several Republican lawmakers initially voted in favor of the bill on Monday, but reversed their votes before the count was finalized.
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