We need you now! We are almost there! Our Pennsylvania Civil Celebrant Bill SB 833 has been introduced by Sens. Farnese, Fontana, Blake and Brewster and the bill is similar to the NJ Civil Celebrant Law R.S.37:1-13 amending their marriage statutes to expand their list of who is authorized to solemnize marriages in the state. Along with judges, mayors, and clergy, they added a new category of people professionally trained to create and perform ceremonies–Civil Celebrants. For that to happen, they need your help to advance this bill up for a vote!
Last year, only 1:4 weddings took place in a traditional religious institution, that means that the overwhelming majority of modern couples are hosting their weddings and ceremony in a venue or out in nature, not in a church.
Alexa & Frank at their wedding and ceremony in the Philadelphia Union Trust Building, Laura Napoli Photography
Nearly 40% of Pennsylvanians 30 years old and younger are “Unaffiliated” with a religion. The religiously unaffiliated, in fact, are the second largest religious group in the commonwealth (right after Catholics). And furthermore, Pennsylvania is considered a “more religiously diverse” state, meaning that the occurrences of interfaith marriages are much higher here than in other parts of the country.
Couples who want a religion-free wedding ceremony, or a wedding ceremony that honors more than one faith or culture) are being left behind by our current marriage laws.
This is the time to reach out to your State Senator to let them know how very important the bill is to the PA wedding industry.
Celebrant Alisa Tongg with Pennsylvania Senator John Blake
Let’s do this now! See the list attached for the PA Judiciary Committee, then please go to their websites and contact them. These are the Senators who will decide if this bi-partisan economic bill goes up for a vote.
FOR SB 833 Civil Celebrancy Bill
Senate Judiciary:
Senator Lisa Baker (R)
Lawrence Farnese (D)
Wayne Langerloc Jr.
Joseph Scarnati III
Camera Bartlotta
Scott Martin
Joe Pittman
Mike Regan
Gene Yaw
Maria Collett
Art Haywood
John Sabatina
Steven Santarsiero
Senator Tina Tartaglione
Senator Lawrence Farnese Jr. Senate Box 203001 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3001 Room: 543 Main Capitol (717) 787-5662 FAX: (717) 787-4531
Senator Lisa Baker Senate Box 203020 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3020 Room: 362 Main Capitol (717) 787-7428 FAX: (717) 787-9242
Senator Lisa Baker 22 Dallas Shopping Center Dallas, PA 18612 (570) 675-3931 FAX: (570) 674-5037
Senator Lisa Baker 2512 Route 6 Hawley, PA 18428 (570) 226-5960 FAX: (570) 226-5964
Senator Wayne Langerholc Jr. Senate Box 203035 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3035 Room: 187 Main Capitol (717) 787-5400 FAX: (717) 772-0573
Senator Joseph Scarnati III Senate Box 203025 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3025 Room: 292 Main Capitol (717) 787-7084 FAX: (717) 772-2755
Senator Camera Bartolotta Senate Box 203046 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3046 Room: 19 East Wing (717) 787-1463 FAX: (717) 772-2108
Senator Camera Bartolotta 95 West Beau Street Suite 107 Washington, PA 15301 (724) 225-4380 FAX: (724) 225-4386
Senator John Gordner Senate Box 203027 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3027 Room: 177 Main Capitol (717) 787-8928 FAX: (717) 787-9715
Senator John Gordner 603 West Main Street Bloomsburg, PA 17815 (570) 784-3464 FAX: (570) 784-9379
Senator Scott Martin Senate Box 203013 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3013 Room: 459 Main Capitol (717) 787-6535
Senator Scott Martin 48-50 W. Chestnut Street Suite 308 Lancaster, PA 17603 (717) 397-1309
Senator Joe Pittman Senate Box 203041 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3041 Room: 281 Main Capitol (717) 787-8724
Senator Joe Pittman 618 Philadelphia Street Indiana, PA 15701 (724) 357-0151 FAX: (724) 357-0148
Senator Joe Pittman 109 South Jefferson Street Kittanning, PA 16201 (724) 543-3026 FAX: (724) 548-4856
Senator Mike Regan Senate Box 203031 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3031 Room: 15 East Wing (717) 787-8524
Senator Mike Regan 1 East Harrisburg Street Dillsburg, PA 17019 (717) 432-1730 FAX: (717) 432-1733
Senator Mike Regan 2151 Market Street Camp Hill, PA 17011 (717) 975-1985
Senator Gene Yaw Senate Box 203023 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3023 Room: 362 Main Capitol (717) 787-3280 FAX: (717) 772-0575
Senator Gene Yaw 175 Pine Street Suite 105 Williamsport, PA 17701 (570) 322-6457 FAX: (570) 327-3703
Senator Maria Collett Senate Box 203012 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3012 Room: 183 Main Capitol (717) 787-6599
Senator Maria Collett Gwynedd Corporate Center 1180 Welsh Road Suite 130 North Wales, PA 19454 (215) 368-1429 FAX: (215) 368-2374
Senator Maria Collett 1410 West Street Road Suite A Warminster, PA 18974 (215) 674-1246 FAX: (215) 674-1361
Senator Art Haywood Senate Box 203004 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3004 Room: 10 East Wing (717) 787-1427 FAX: (717) 772-0572
Senator Art Haywood 1168 Easton Road Abington, PA 19001 (215) 517-1434 FAX: (215) 517-1439
Senator Art Haywood 7106 Germantown Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19119 (215) 242-8171 FAX: (215) 242-6118
Senator John Sabatina Jr. Senate Box 203005 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3005 Room: 457 Main Capitol (717) 787-9608 FAX: (717) 772-2162
Senator John Sabatina Jr. 12361 Academy Road Philadelphia, PA 19154 (215) 281-2539 FAX: (215) 281-2798
Senator John Sabatina Jr. 8016 Bustleton Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19152 (215) 695-1020 FAX: (215) 695-1027
Senator Steven Santarsiero Senate Box 203010 Harrisburg, PA 17120-3010 Room: 184 Main Capitol (717) 787-7305
Senator Steven Santarsiero Building 100, Suite 121 2003 Lower State Road Doylestown, PA 18901 (215) 489-5000
Senator Steven Santarsiero 3 Terry Drive Suite 201 Newtown, PA 18940 (215) 497-9490
