By Madden H.B. No. 312 76R2413 DRH-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the meaning of a relationship involving marriage for 1-3 purposes of laws governing the conduct of an election. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Election Code, is amended by adding 1-6 Section 1.017 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 1.017. RELATIONSHIP INVOLVING INFORMAL MARRIAGE. For 1-8 purposes of this code and any other law of this state relating to 1-9 the conduct of an election, a relationship involving marriage 1-10 includes an informal marriage described by Section 2.401, Family 1-11 Code. 1-12 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 1-13 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-14 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-15 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-16 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-17 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.