HB 1044
AN ACT relating to persons authorized to conduct a marriage ceremony.
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
This Texas bill expands the list of people who can legally perform marriage ceremonies, including Christian ministers, Buddhist monks/priests, religious organization leaders authorized to conduct marriages, and current, former, or retired federal judges. The changes apply to marriage ceremonies conducted on or after September 1, 2025, allowing more individuals the ability to officially marry couples in the state. The bill provides additional flexibility for couples seeking to formalize their marriage by broadening the types of officiants who can legally perform wedding ceremonies.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
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 (a) The following persons are authorized to conduct a (1) a licensed or ordained Christian minister or (3) a Buddhist monk or priest; (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 (b) For the purposes of Subsection (a)(8) [(a)(4)], "federal judge" and "state judge" have the meanings assigned by 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 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill Sponsors
Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.
Expert Lobbyists for This Bill
These lobbyists specialize in Religion and related subject areas.
Ky Ash
Elizabeth Hadley
David Doran Parker
John Sepehri
Galt Graydon
Chris Hosek
Christopher Hughes
Jacob Smith
Carley Butler
Bill Jones
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to persons authorized to conduct a marriage ceremony.
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