SB 228 - Covenant Marriage Act of Oklahoma

• Establishes covenant marriage option in Oklahoma requiring couples to sign a Declaration of Intent affirming marriage as a lifelong commitment made before God and complete premarital counseling before marriage license issuance.

• Requires Declaration of Intent to be signed by both parties in the presence of two witnesses and a notary public, and allows existing marriages to be converted to covenant marriage status upon mutual agreement.

• Restricts divorce in covenant marriages to cases where one spouse proves abandonment for at least one year, physical or sexual abuse, or adultery by preponderance of evidence; requires marital counseling before divorce except in abuse or criminal conviction cases.

• Provides tax credit of $2,500 for married couples filing jointly or $1,250 per person filing separately for tax years 2025 and beyond; credit is non-refundable but may be carried forward up to five subsequent tax years.

• Directs State Commissioner of Health to promulgate rules for administering covenant marriage licenses and maintaining records; effective date July 1, 2025.