ND Bill Would Allow Middle Name Options on Marriage Licenses

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota lawmakers are mulling legislation to allow for middle name options on marriage licenses.

Newly married Fargo Republican Rep. Thomas Beadle is the primary sponsor of the bill that would allow someone to who gets married to keep his or her former surname and their middle name.

Beadle says several younger lawmakers and especially those who are newly married like himself are supportive of the measure.

Currently, someone who gets married may keep his or her former surname as his or her new middle name on their marriage license.

The proposed legislation gives plenty of options, including keeping the middle name and hyphenating the two last names.

The House unanimously approved the measure 90-0 in January. The Senate Judiciary Committee is slated to consider the bill on Wednesday.