House Joint Resolution 1: Gay Marriage

Date Introduced: 21 January 2015 (Prefile Release was on 9 January 2015)
Author/Sponsor: Rep. Andrew Josephson

Description:

• 21 January 2015, Sponsor Statement: House Joint Resolution 1 proposes a constitutional amendment that would put before the voters the ability to remove Article 1, section 25. HJR1 would remove the definition of marriage from the Constitution of the State of Alaska.
  On October 12, 2014, a federal judge ruled that Alaska's ban on gay marriage was uncostitutional because it deprived individuals of basic due process and equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The State of Alaska chose to appeal the ruling and requested a stay. On October 17, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court denied Alaska's request for an emergency stay and marriages were allowed to continue.
  Alaska is the last state in the 9th Circuit Court to continue to appeal the ruling. Nevada, Idaho and Arizona have all dropped their appeals. During a time of fiscal constraints Alaska can not continue to pursue frivilous lawsuits.
  HJR1 would allow the voters to remove a blotch from the State Constitution and allow all individuals to enjoy the rights secured for them under the Constitution of the United States.
  I invite you to discuss this issue with me further and urge you to support this legislation.
• 21 January 2015, referred to State Affairs