State Senator Tom Haywood's bill designed to make marriages stronger was passed by the full Senate today, and now moves on to the House. The bill will amend the Family Code to require an applicant for a covenant marriage license to complete an affidavit of intent to contract a covenant marriage and adds a subchapter which describes a covenant marriage. The voluntary covenant marriage option is not about making getting a divorce more difficult, but about making marriages more successful, said Haywood, R-Wichita Falls.
Marriage is a lifelong commitment.
The Covenant Marriage bill would allow couples to choose more stringent premarital requirements and marital obligations. The option would be completely voluntary, and encourage the commitment to preserve the marriage union through difficulty, therefore strengthening marriages. Covenant marriages are currently allowed in Louisiana and Arizona, and a bill in Arkansas passed earlier this month.