BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1884

By: Bhojani

Juvenile Justice & Family Issues

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law may create confusion as to who is authorized to conduct a marriage. This may result in certain religious leaders being hesitant to conduct such ceremonies. C.S.H.B. 1884 seeks to ensure that everyone, regardless of their religious practice, can be married as provided by their faith.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1884 amends the Family Code to authorize the following persons to conduct a marriage ceremony:

·         a Buddhist monk or priest;

·         a Hindu pundit;

·         a Muslim imam;

·         a Sikh granthi; and

·         any person who is authorized by a religious organization to conduct a marriage ceremony. 

C.S.H.B. 1884 establishes that its provisions apply only to a marriage ceremony that is conducted on or after the bill's effective date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 1884 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The introduced version eliminated the list of religious officials specifically authorized to conduct a marriage ceremony, whereas the substitute adds to that list. The substitute includes a provision absent from the introduced establishing that the bill's provisions apply only to marriage ceremonies conducted on or after the bill's effective date.