State Representative
Mark Olson

(ST. PAUL) A bill co-authored by State Representative Mark Olson (R-Big Lake) which would strengthen the institution of marriage in the State of Minnesota is making its way through the legislative process. In recent days the Covenant Marriage Bill (House File 1571) passed the House Civil Law and Judiciary Finance Committees.

House File 1571 gives couples in Minnesota the opportunity to enter into a "covenant marriage," under which they voluntarily agree to (1) receive premarital counseling; (2) take all reasonable efforts preserve the marriage when difficulties arise; and (3) obtain a divorce only under the most serious grounds of adultery, felony criminal action, abandonment, physical or sexual abuse, or a lengthy separation without reconciliation.

"A healthy union of marriage is the most important foundational building block of our society," said Rep. Olson. "That foundation has crumbled to the point where nearly half of all new marriages now end in divorce in America. The strength of a nation lies within the strength of its families. We must take marriage more seriously."

Minnesota's current "no-fault" divorce laws, which allow a couple to terminate their marriage in divorce for any reason at any time, bear much of the responsibility for trivializing the marriage commitment, said Rep. Olson. "Most Minnesotans agree that it is too easy to get a divorce in this state and that our no-fault laws need significant reform," he said. "A covenant marriage is an option available to couples who wish to commit to each other that they are very serious about taking every reasonable step to ensure their marriage's success, with a law to back it up."

Rep. Olson is also supporting House File 2229, legislation which would reduce the marriage license fee for couples who have completed pre-marital counseling. The bill would lower the fee for these couple from $70 to $15. House File 2229 is currently before the House Civil Law Committee, where it awaits further action.