Bill Text: TX HB1044 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to persons authorized to conduct a marriage ceremony.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-12 - Filed [HB1044 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB1044-Introduced.html

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89R3594 PRL-F
By: Bhojani H.B. No. 1044

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to persons authorized to conduct a marriage ceremony.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 2.202(a) and (b), Family Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) The following persons are authorized to conduct a
marriage ceremony:
(1) a licensed or ordained Christian minister or
priest;
(2) a Jewish rabbi;
(3) a Buddhist monk or priest;
(4) a Hindu pundit;
(5) a Muslim imam;
(6) a Sikh granthi;
(7) [(3)] a person who [is an officer of a religious
organization and who] is authorized by a religious [the]
organization to conduct a marriage ceremony; and
(8) [(4)] a current, former, or retired federal judge
or state judge.
(b) For the purposes of Subsection (a)(8) [(a)(4)],
"federal judge" and "state judge" have the meanings assigned by
Section 25.025, Tax Code.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to a marriage ceremony that is conducted on or after the effective
date of this Act. A marriage ceremony conducted before the
effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the
date the ceremony was conducted, and the former law is continued in
effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.