The Senate passed a bill that would ban first cousins from getting married in the state unanimously on Monday.
The House Civil Justice committee on Tuesday passed a version by Rep. Darren Jernigan (D-Nashville), who plans to retire from the House this year.
kAmsFC:?8 E96 4@>>:EE66 >66E:?8[ #6A] v:?@ qF=D@ W#\qC6?EH@@5X C6G62=65 2? :?E6C6DE:?8 A2CE @7 9:D @H? A6CD@?2= 9:DE@CJ H9:=6 :?5:42E:?8 DFAA@CE @7 E96 3:==]k^Am
kAm“|J 8C2?5A2C6?ED 42>6 @G6C E@ E9:D 4@F?ECJ E9C@F89 t==:D xD=2?5 7C@> xE2=J 324< :? E96 `ha_D[” qF=D@ D2:5] “p?5 E96J D6EE=65 :? {@C2:?[ ~9:@[ C:89E D@FE9 @7 {2<6 tC:6[ ?6IE E@ r=6G6=2?5] p?5 E96J H6C6 7:CDE 4@FD:?D[ 3FE E96J 4@F=5?’E 86E >2CC:65 :? ~9:@] $@ 324< :? `hac[ E96J 24EF2==J 42>6 5@H? E@ %6??6DD66 E@ 86E >2CC:65] $@[ 3FE 7@C E96 6I:DE6?46 @7 E96 4FCC6?E =2H[ x H@F=5 ?@E 36 96C6] qFE 56DA:E6 E92E[ x E9:?< :E’D 8@@5 =68:D=2E:@? 2?5 x :?E6?5 E@ DFAA@CE :E]”k^Am
k9bm#6D:56?E:2= :?7C2DECF4EFC6 56G6=@A>6?Ek^9bm
kAm#6A] |2C< !@5J W#\{632?@?X DA@?D@CD 2 3:== E92E 96 D2JD 4C62E6D 2 AC@46DD 7@C 7:?2?4:?8 7@C :?7C2DECF4EFC6 7@C 724:=:E2E:?8 >@C6 C6D:56?E:2= 56G6=@A>6?E :? 4:E:6D 2?5 4@F?E:6D E92E 56D:C6 :E]k^Am
kAm“(6 2C6 :? 2 3=6DD65 DE2E6 E92E H6 2C6 8C@H:?8 D@ 72DE 2?5 H6 2C6 92G:?8 2 9@FD:?8 D9@CE286[” !@5J D2:5 5FC:?8 2 4@>>:EE66 >66E:?8 62C=:6C :? E96 D6DD:@?] “tDA64:2==J :? E96 72DE6DE 8C@H:?8 4@F?E:6D 2C@F?5 H6 2C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 7:?5 2 H2J E92E H6 42? 86E >@C6 9@FD:?8 56G6=@A65 BF:4<6C]”k^Am
kAm!@5J D2:5 4@>>6C4:2= 56G6=@A>6?ED 92G6 D6G6C2= E@@=D E@ 5@ E9:D 2?5 E96 :562 @7 E96 3:== :D E@ 6IE6?5 D@>6 @7 E9@D6 D2>6 @AE:@?D 7@C =@42= 4@>>F?:E:6D :? 56G6=@A>6?E]k^Am
kAm$qab`d A2DD65 @? |@?52J H:E9 b_ D6?2E@CD :? 28C66>6?E @? E96 3:==] xE 9625D E@ E96 w@FD6 u:?2?46 (2JD 2?5 |62?D r@>>:EE66 @? %F6D52J[ pAC:= h]k^Am
k9bmr@?462=65 42CCJ :? D49@@=Dk^9bm
kAm$q`bad^wq`a_a H@F=5 2==@H D49@@= DE277 H:E9 6?92?465 A6C>:ED E@ 42CCJ 4@?462=65 8F?D @? D49@@= AC@A6CEJ] xE A2DD65 E96 $6?2E6 yF5:4:2CJ r@>>:EE66 f\` @? %F6D52J] $6?] {@?5@? {2>2C Ws\|6>A9:DX H2D E96 D:?8F=2C ?@ G@E6] xE H:== 36 @? E96 $6?2E6’D 42=6?52C @? %F6D52J[ pAC:= h]k^Am
k9bm{6DD E:>6 7@C 72:C H286 4=2:>Dk^9bm
kAm%96 $6?2E6 A2DD65 wqa``b^$qa_`f[ H9:49 H@F=5 E96 D9@CE6? DE2EFE6 @7 =:>:E2E:@?D 7C@> D:I E@ E9C66 J62CD 7@C H@C<6CD ?@E 36:?8 A2:5 72:C=J E@ >2<6 2 4=2:>] xE A2DD65 E96 $6?2E6 ac\` @? |@?52J 27E6C 2=C625J 92G:?8 A2DD65 E96 w@FD6 :? |2C49] xE H:== >@G6 @?E@ E96 8@G6C?@C’D 56D< ?6IE]k^Am
k9bmt2DE q2?< =68:D=2E:@? AFD965 324< 282:?k^9bm
kAm~? uC:52J[ $6?] r92C=2?6 ~=:G6C Ws\}2D9G:==6X AF==65 96C DA@?D@CD9:A 7C@> E96 t2DE q2?< =68:D=2E:@?] }2D9G:==6VD $6?] w6:5: r2>A36== :D 6IA64E65 E@ E2<6 :E FA ?6IE]k^Am
kAm%96 $6?2E6 u:?2?46 (2JD 2?5 |62?D r@>>:EE66 56=2J65 E96 t2DE q2?< =68:D=2E:@? W$qaheg^wqahgcX F?E:= %F6D52J] %96 w@FD6 G6CD:@? D9@F=5 2=D@ C6EFC? @? %F6D52J E@ E96 w@FD6 {@42= v@G6C?>6?E r@>>:EE66]k^Am
kAm%96 %6??6DD66 {@@<@FE kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E6??6DD66=@@<@FE]4@>^a_ac^_c^_c^=2H>2<6CD\62D:?8\@77\3C2<6D\@?\?2D9G:==6D\62DE\32?<\2FE9@C:EJ\3:==^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmC6A@CEDk^2mk^DEC@?8m }@CE9 r2C@=:?2\32D65 $A665H2J |@E@CDA@CED[ {{r[ H9:49 @H?D qC:DE@= |@E@C $A665H2J[ A@E6?E:2==J A=2J65 2 A2CE :? E96 3:==’D kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6A@DE]4@>^A@=:E:4D^DE2E6^@?\E96\9:==\>2C49\`g\aa\=68:D=2E:G6\FA52E6^2CE:4=60d257f2ga\6gf4\``66\hecd\fb3f_e24`fca]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmC6EFC? E@ 4@>>:EE66Dk^2mk^DEC@?8m] #6A@CE65=J[ E96 4@>A2?J H2?E65 =2H>2<6CD E@ FD6 E96 =68:D=2E:@? 2D =6G6C286 7@C 2 562= E@ 96=A 7F?5 C6?@G2E:@?D 2E E96 u2:C8C@F?5D }2D9G:==6] y@6 w2==[ 2 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6 7@C E96 4@>A2?J[ E@=5 E96 {@@<@FE E96 8C@FA :D ?@E ECJ:?8 E@ 56C2:= E96 3:==]k^Am
kAm~=:G6C D2:5 :? 96C DE2E6>6?E @? uC:52J[ Qx 92G6 962C5 G2C:@FD CF>@CD 23@FE E96 4@?EC@==:?8 A2CEJ’D :?E6?E] %92E #6AF3=:42?D H2?E E@ E:6 E96 t2DE q2?< =68:D=2E:@? E@ 2AAC@G2= @7 2 562= E@ C63F:=5 2 C246EC24< 2E E96 }2D9G:==6 72:C8C@F?5D] %92E #6AF3=:42?D H2?E >@C6 D62ED @? E96 pFE9@C:EJ H:E9 G@E:?8 A@H6C] p?@E96C CF>@C DF886DE65 #6AF3=:42? =6256CD9:A :D 3=@4<:?8 E96 t2DE q2?< 3:== 2D C6EC:3FE:@? 7@C H@C5D x FD65 E@ 56D4C:36 E96 7CFDEC2E:@? x 76=E 7@C >J 5:DEC:4E 27E6C 36:?8 D:=6?465 @? 2? 6IEC6>6 v~! 3:== @G6CEFC?:?8 =@42= A@=:46 C67@C>D A2DD65 :? E96 H2<6 @7 E96 562E9 @7 %JC6 }:49@=D]Qk^Am
kAm~=:G6C D2:5 D96 EC:65 E@ C6D@=G6 2?J :DDF6D H:E9 E96 {E] v@G] #2?5J |4}2==J W#\~2< #:586X :? 2 >66E:?8]k^Am
kAmQ(96E96C :E’D A@=:E:42= 6I4=FD:@? @C 9FCE 766=:?8D @C 3@E9[ x 5@?’E <?@H H92E E96 ECFE9 :D[ 3FE x <?@H >J :?E68C:EJ :D ?@E H@CE9 E96D6 A@=:E:42= E962EC:4D 2?5 A@H6C A=2JD — 6DA64:2==J 7@C =68:D=2E:@? E92E =24<D :?AFE 7C@> E96 C6D:56?ED x C6AC6D6?E :? E96 $6?2E6[Q ~=:G6C D2:5] $96 25565 E92E E96 =2?8F286 @7 E96 3:== 2?5 A@=:4:6D 925 366? 564:565 62C=J @? H:E9@FE 96C :?G@=G6>6?E 3FE E92E D96 4@?E:?F65 E@ 42CCJ E96 =68:D=2E:@? D:?46 :E :>A24ED 96C 5:DEC:4E]k^Am
kAmQxE’D 2 A2EE6C? @=56C E92? E96 DE2E6 :ED6=7i q=24< G@:46D 86E D:56=:?65 @? >2;@C 64@?@>:4 564:D:@?D 2?5 E96 36?67:ED @7 E9@D6 562=D EC:4<=6 FA E@ E96 H62=E9J @C @FE\@7\DE2E6 — ?@E 5@H? E@ @FC 72>:=:6D[Q ~=:G6C D2:5]k^Am
k9bmw62=E9 42C6 FA52E6Dk^9bm
kAmp 3:== W$q`gba^wqaaaeX E92E H@F=5 4C62E6 7@FC ?6H A@D:E:@?D @? E96 DE2E6’D 6I:DE:?8 |2E6C?2= |@CE2=:EJ #6G:6H r@>>:EE66 7@C 4@>>F?:EJ\32D65 >2E6C?2= 962=E9 6IA6CED A2DD65 E96 w@FD6 w62=E9 r@>>:EE66 @? (65?6D52J 27E6C A2DD:?8 E96 $6?2E6 :? >:5\|2C49] %96 3@2C5 DEF5:6D AC68?2?4J\C6=2E65 562E9D :? %6??6DD66 2?5 :DDF6D kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6A@DE]4@>^3FD:?6DD^962=E9042C6^4@G:5\`h\?6H\=625\42FD6\@7\AC68?2?4J\2DD@4:2E65\562E9^2CE:4=607746f2_c\ffd2\``66\2dg5\h75f_afegeg_]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm2 J62C=J C6A@CEk^2mk^DEC@?8m] $6?] {@?5@? {2>2C Ws\|6>A9:DX 92D 2 kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6D46?6]4@>^?6HD^4:EJ=:>:ED^5@F=2D\DECF88=6\E@\C646:G6\C6:>3FCD6>6?E\E@\D6CG6\4:EJ\D\>@DE\GF=?6C23=6^2CE:4=605f`3dhe_\5gh_\``65\33hb\c3h`a427ha``]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm9:DE@CJk^2mk^DEC@?8m @7 AC6D6?E:?8 3:==D C6=2E65 E@ >2E6C?2= 962=E9 2?5 5@F=2D] %96 =68:D=2E:@? 9625D E@ E96 w@FD6 v@G6C?>6?E ~A6C2E:@?D r@>>:EE66 @? |@?52J]k^Am
kAmp D6A2C2E6 3:==[ $q`h`h^wqabed[ 2==@HD 7@C :?DFC2?46 E@ 4@G6C `a >@?E9D @7 3:CE9 4@?EC@= 2E @?46[ 2?5 A2DD65 E96 w@FD6 @? %9FCD52J] xE :D ?@H @? :ED H2J E@ v@G] q:== {66’D 56D<]k^Am
kAmp?@E96C 3:== Wwq`fae^$qabdhX H@F=5 kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E6??6DD66=@@<@FE]4@>^a_ac^_a^a`^3:==\E@\6=:>:?2E6\G2I\C6BF:C6>6?ED\7@C\E6??6DD66\7@DE6C\42C6\25@AE:G6\72>:=:6D\25G2?46D^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmC6>@G6 :>>F?:K2E:@? C6BF:C6>6?EDk^2mk^DEC@?8m 7@C 7@DE6C 72>:=:6D 2446AE:?8 :?72?ED 2?5 >65:42==J 7C28:=6 49:=5C6? H2D D6?E E@ E96 8@G6C?@C’D 56D< @? |@?52J] !9JD:4:2?D 6IAC6DD65 4@?46C? E@ E96 k6>m!@DEk^6>m 23@FE E96 :>A@CE2?46 @7 E96 H9@@A:?8 4@F89 G244:?6[ 2D E96 5:D62D6 4@F=5 36 5625=J 7@C :?72?ED WkDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6A@DE]4@>^3FD:?6DD^962=E9042C6^E6??6DD66\EF>3=6D\:?\?2E:@?2=\962=E9\C2?<:?8D\7@C\49:=5\G244:?2E:@?D^2CE:4=6037ffb3d6\536_\``66\g74h\fb3`2`bff6db]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmC625 >@C6k^2mk^DEC@?8mX]k^Am
k9bmp3@CE:@? =68:D=2E:@?k^9bm
kAm%96 “23@CE:@? EC277:4<:?8” 3:== Wwq`ghd^$q`hf`X E92E H@F=5 >2<6 :E :==682= 7@C 2? 25F=E E@ 96=A 2 >:?@C E92E :D ?@E E96:C 3:@=@8:42= 49:=5 @3E2:? 2? 23@CE:@? A2DD65 E96 $6?2E6 yF5:4:2CJ r@>>:EE66 @? %F6D52J 2?5 :D 962565 7@C E96 $6?2E6 7=@@C H9:=6 2H2:E:?8 24E:@? :? E96 w@FD6] xE :D D:>:=2C E@ 2 a_ab x529@ =2H E92E 92D 366? kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6A@DE]4@>^A@=:E:4D^DE2E6^23@CE:@?\EC277:4<:?8\3:==\AC@4665D^2CE:4=6045ec_3gb\gfbh\d`ac\g5g6\f2e2d7hdgged]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm3=@4<65k^2mk^DEC@?8m 3J 2 7656C2= ;F586]k^Am
k9bmx>>:8C2E:@? 6?7@C46>6?Ek^9bm
kAmp 3:== H2D EC2?D>:EE65 E@ {66’D 56D< %9FCD52J E92E 2:>D E@ kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]?2D9G:==6A@DE]4@>^A@=:E:4D^DE2E6^@?\E96\9:==\>2C49\``\`d\=68:D=2E:G6\C642A^2CE:4=60f73f2_gg\6dac\``66\353_\bb57h6ehcb33]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmC6BF:C6 =@42= A@=:46k^2mk^DEC@?8m E@ H@C< H:E9 xrt 2?J E:>6 2 A6CD@? H9@ :D DFDA64E65 E@ 36 F?5@4F>6?E65 :D 56E2:?65 @C DE@AA65] %96 3:== W$qadfe^wqa`acX H2D E96 DF3;64E @7 2 AC@E6DE 7C@> kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E:CC4G@E6D]@C8^?6HD^D3adfeDE2E6>6?EQ E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm%6??6DD66 x>>:8C2?E 2?5 #67F866 #:89ED r@2=:E:@?k^2mk^DEC@?8m E9:D H66<]k^Am
