BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1814

By: Hernandez

Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill author has informed the committee that current statute outlining the contents required in an application for a county marriage license and a declaration and registration of informal marriage contains language that is inapplicable to some applicants. This language includes references to a woman's maiden surname and husband and wife. H.B. 1814 updates this prescribed language to make these forms applicable to all applicants, eliminating confusion and creating consistency in the law.

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

H.B. 1814 amends the Family Code to replace the requirement for an application form for a marriage license and for a declaration of informal marriage form to include spaces for the woman's maiden name with a requirement for the forms to include spaces instead for the surname of an applicant or a party, respectively, intending to change the applicant's or party's surname as a result of the marriage. The bill also replaces the reference to husband and wife in the printed declaration and oath on the declaration of informal marriage form with a reference to spouses.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.