We’re not sure if there are any newspapers left in the Bay Area that still print marriage licenses. But starting today (Jan. 1), but if there are any, they’ll have to stop due to a new state law, AB130. Here’s a story from the Marysville (Yuba County) Appeal-Democrat that says marriage licenses are one more public record that is no longer public.

Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries, R-Lake Elsinore, told the Appeal-Democrat that he wrote the law to prevent identity theft. Exactly how identity thieves would benefit by knowing a victim’s marital status isn’t clear.

Peter Scheer, executive director of the California-based First
Amendment Coalition, said his group might have to help educate county
clerks and their staffs over what they can release under the law.

“I’m not sure people get married to keep it a secret,” Scheer said.