Marriage license fee increase stalls

A bill that would increase marriage license fees in Nebraska stalled during general file debate Jan. 28.

LB88, sponsored by Lincoln Sen. Kathy Campbell, would increase the fee charged by counties from $15 to $50 for issuing and recording marriage licenses and to administer oaths or affirmations for marriage. The bill also would increase the fee charged by counties from $5 to $16 to make a certified copy of a marriage record.

Campbell said that Nebraska county officials requested the fee increases because their administrative costs have not been adjusted since 1995. She said county officials have estimated that the time required to verify and correct information provided by couples totals an average of $55 in administrative costs per year.

“When we ask counties to provide a service,” Campbell said, “we need to know that they are covering their costs.”

Omaha Sen. Ernie Chambers opposed the bill, saying some services provided by the counties should have no fees attached.

“I don’t believe any county is going to go broke because of the amount they charge for marriage licenses,” he said.

Calling the proposed 300 percent increase “obscene,” Hoskins Sen. Dave Bloomfield also opposed the bill. He said an incremental change should be considered instead.

“When we increase fees three times over we are overreaching,” Bloomfield said.

Bellevue Sen. Sue Crawford supported the bill, saying, “Many of these user fees have not been increased in 20 years.” The amount of the proposed increase only shows the Legislature’s failure to address unfunded mandates it has approved over the years, she added.

Omaha Sen. Bob Krist also supported the bill. He said the increase is a reasonable request by county agencies that are struggling to provide services without adequate funding.

“There are counties out there that will not be made whole by this move,” he said.

Chambers attempted to kill the bill several times. His motion to indefinitely postpone it failed 5-38. A motion to reconsider that vote failed 2-33.

Chambers then offered a motion to bracket the bill until Feb. 13, which failed on a 2-37 vote. His motion to reconsider the bracket vote also failed 5-34.

Two amendments were pending when the Legislature adjourned for the day.