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S 435 114th Congress Senate Families Intergovernmental relations Marriage and family status Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination State and local government operations

State Marriage Defense Act of 2015

Introduced: February 10, 2015 Introduced by: Cruz, Ted Republican · Texas See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 10, 2015
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 10, 2015
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

State Marriage Defense Act of 2015

Prohibits, for purposes of determining the meaning of any Act of Congress or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of U.S. administrative bureaus and agencies as applied with respect to individuals domiciled in a state or in any other territory or possession of the United States: (1) the term "marriage" from including any relationship that the state, territory, or possession does not recognize as a marriage; and (2) the term "spouse" from including an individual who is a party to a relationship that is not recognized as a marriage by that state, territory, or possession.

What's happening now February 10, 2015

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 824 Identical bill State Marriage Defense Act of 2015
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 8
All 8 Republican 8
R
Cotton, Tom
Arkansas · Feb 27, 2015
 R
Thune, John
South Dakota · Feb 27, 2015
 R
Boozman, John
Arkansas · Feb 10, 2015
 R
Crapo, Mike
Idaho · Feb 10, 2015
 R
Daines, Steve
Montana · Feb 10, 2015
 R
Lankford, James
Oklahoma · Feb 10, 2015
 R
Lee, Mike
Utah · Feb 10, 2015
 R
Scott, Tim
South Carolina · Feb 10, 2015
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 435: State Marriage Defense Act of 2015. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-435/
MLA
"S. 435: State Marriage Defense Act of 2015." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-435/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 435, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-435/.
Markdown link
[S. 435: State Marriage Defense Act of 2015](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-435/)
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