House Joint Resolution 990 by Senator Jeff Miller (R-Cleveland), the Marriage Protection Amendment, received its third and final required reading on Wednesday (May 19) and the Senate then approved the measure 29-1.
The Marriage Protection Amendment would put the question to the people of Tennessee as to whether they want to amend Article XI of their state Constitution to define marriage as a contract between one man and one woman.
Senator Miller stated, “Just this Monday in Massachusetts, same-sex marriages became legal. I am positive that we will see a court challenge to our existing state statute which defines marriage as being between one man and one woman.”
Senator Miller was a Senate sponsor of the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. The Marriage Protection Amendment next needs two-thirds approval of each house in 2005 and/or 2006 during the 104th General Assembly. Should that occur, the people would vote on making a change to their constitution during the November 2006 election.
It would require a yes vote from a majority of those voting in the governor’s race. Senator Miller represents the 9th Senatorial District which includes Bradley, McMinn, Meigs, and Polk counties.

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