Covenant Marriage Bill Passes Oklahoma House Committee

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Legislation that would allow couples to enter into a voluntary covenant marriage that would require counseling and make it harder to get a divorce is headed to the state House floor.

The House Judiciary Committee approved Tulsa Republican John Wright's bill by an 8-1 vote Thursday.

Wright says the bill is wise public policy to cut down on Oklahoma's high divorce rate. He cites research that indicates there are less than half as many divorces among those with a covenant marriage.

Seminole Democrat Ryan Kiesel was the only committee member to vote against the bill. He says there should be no two-tiered system placing less value on some marriages.

Louisiana, Arkansas and Arizona already have similar laws.