Alabama legislators tee up bill to let judges opt out of granting marriage licenses altogether

An Alabama state Senate committee has put forth a bill that would take state probate judges out of the business of granting marriage licenses so that the judges can avoid having to grant those licenses to same-sex couples.

According to Montgomery's WIAT, the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund Committee approved a bill on Monday to do away with state-issued marriage licenses altogether. If the law passes, couples would file a signed marriage contract with state probate offices.

In multiple counties in Alabama, judges have shut down their marriage licensing procedures altogether rather than complying with the Supreme Court's historic ruling in June which made it legal for same sex couples to marry in all 50 states.

The AP reported that the bill's sponsor, Sen. Greg Albritton (R) proposed the measure as a means of settling the ongoing controversy over marriage in the state.

The bill is unlikely to pass, however, because it would require a two-thirds majority. The state legislature is currently in emergency session over a budget shortfall. Any bills proposed during emergency sessions must have a two-thirds majority to pass.

Watch video about this story, embedded below: