Bill 31, Marriage Amendment Act, 2025

Current status: Royal Assent received. Statutes of Ontario 2025, chapter 20

Bill 31 Royal Assent (PDF)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Explanatory Note was written as a reader’s aid to Bill 31 and does not form part of the law.
Bill 31 has been enacted as Chapter 20 of the Statutes of Ontario, 2025.

The Bill amends the Marriage Act to authorize a member of the Assembly to solemnize marriages under the authority of a licence if they have given written notice to the Minister. The authorization would last for a period of 12 months after the day the person ceases to be a member of the Assembly.

Bill 31 2025

An Act to amend the Marriage Act

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1 (1)  Subsection 24 (1) of the Marriage Act is amended by adding the following paragraph:

  3.1  A member of the Assembly who has given written notice to the Minister indicating an interest in solemnizing marriages.

(2)  Section 24 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Same

(2)  Subsection (1) continues to apply to a person described in paragraph 3.1 of that subsection for a period of 12 months after the day the person ceases to be a member of the Assembly.

Commencement

2 This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

3 The short title of this Act is the Marriage Amendment Act, 2025.

Bill 31 Original (PDF)

Bill 31 2025

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill amends the Marriage Act to authorize a member of the Assembly to solemnize marriages under the authority of a licence if they have given written notice to the Minister. The authorization would last for a period of 12 months after the day the person ceases to be a member of the Assembly.

An Act to amend the Marriage Act

His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

1 (1)  Subsection 24 (1) of the Marriage Act is amended by adding the following paragraph:

3.1  A member of the Assembly who has given written notice to the Minister indicating an interest in solemnizing marriages.

(2)  Section 24 of the Act is amended by adding the following subsection:

Same

(2)  Subsection (1) continues to apply to a person described in paragraph 3.1 of that subsection for a period of 12 months after the day the person ceases to be a member of the Assembly.

Commencement

2 This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

3 The short title of this Act is the Marriage Amendment Act, 2025.

DateBill stageEventOutcomeCommittee
December 11, 2025Royal AssentRoyal Assent received--
December 4, 2025Third ReadingVoteCarried-
December 4, 2025Third ReadingQuestion put--
December 4, 2025Third ReadingDebated--
December 4, 2025Second ReadingOrdered for Third Reading pursuant to the Order of the House--
December 4, 2025Second ReadingDischarge the Order of referral to Committee of the Whole House--
December 4, 2025Second ReadingMotion to arrange proceedings--
October 23, 2025Second ReadingOrdered referred to Committee of the Whole House--
October 23, 2025Second ReadingVoteCarried-
October 23, 2025Second ReadingQuestion put--
October 23, 2025Second ReadingDebated--
May 28, 2025First ReadingOrdered for Second Reading--
May 28, 2025First ReadingVoteCarried-

First Reading

  • Carried
  • Ordered for Second Reading

Second Reading

  • Bresee, Ric
    Hastings—Lennox and Addington
  • Leardi, Anthony
    Essex
  • Pinsonneault, Steve
    Lambton—Kent—Middlesex
  • Smith, Dave
    Peterborough—Kawartha
  • Smyth, Stephanie
    Toronto—St. Paul's
  • Vanthof, John
    Timiskaming—Cochrane
  • Question put
  • Carried
  • Ordered referred to Committee of the Whole House

  • Motion to arrange proceedings
  • Discharge the Order of referral to Committee of the Whole House
  • Ordered for Third Reading pursuant to the Order of the House

Third Reading

Questions and Responses

  • Gilmour, Alexa
    Parkdale—High Park
  • Rae, Matthew
    Perth—Wellington
  • Smith, Dave
    Peterborough—Kawartha
  • Smyth, Stephanie
    Toronto—St. Paul's
  • Question put
  • Carried

Royal Assent

  • Royal Assent received

Acts affected - Bill 31

The First Reading version of this bill proposed amendments to these public acts (available to view on e-Laws):

  • Marriage Act