A bill to ban same-sex marriages and recognition of out-of-state same-sex marriages has been re-introduced in the New Jersey Assembly.

The bill, A648, would add same-sex marriages to the list of statutorily prohibited marriages in New Jersey. It would also forbid recognition of out-of-state same-sex marriages and declare them to be in violation of New Jersey public policy.

The bill is sponsored only by seven Republicans.

Left unclear by the bill, as drafted, is whether New Jersey could recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages as civil unions. Early last year, the state attorney general opined that under current law the state would do so. By weaving its ban on same-sex marriage into existing marriage provisions of New Jersey law while leaving civil union provisions unaffected, the bill arguably would leave open the option endorsed by the attorney general.

As for recognition of out-of-state same-sex marriages as marriages in New Jersey, at least two New Jersey courts have already denied such recognition. See the Hennefeld and Quarto cases. But see the Robinson case, giving some legal standing under New Jersey law to an out-of-state same-sex marriage.