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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a waiver of the waiting period for a marriage ceremony. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 2.204(c), Family Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) An applicant may request a judge of a court with |
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jurisdiction in family law cases, a justice of the supreme court, a |
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judge of the court of criminal appeals, a county judge, [or] a judge |
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of a court of appeals, or a justice of the peace for a written waiver |
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permitting the marriage ceremony to take place during the 72-hour |
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period immediately following the issuance of the marriage license. |
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If the judge or justice finds that there is good cause for the |
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marriage to take place during the period, the judge or justice shall |
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sign the waiver. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a |
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judge or justice under this section has the authority to sign a |
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waiver under this section. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a marriage ceremony for which a marriage license application is |
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filed on or after the effective date of this Act. A marriage |
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ceremony for which a marriage license application is filed before |
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the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on |
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the date the application was filed, and the former law is continued |
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in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |