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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to persons authorized to conduct a marriage ceremony. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 2.202(a) and (b), Family Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The following persons are authorized to conduct a |
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marriage ceremony: |
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(1) a licensed or ordained Christian minister or |
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priest; |
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(2) a Jewish rabbi; |
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(3) a Buddhist monk or priest; |
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(4) a Hindu pundit; |
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(5) a Muslim imam; |
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(6) a Sikh granthi; |
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(7) [(3)] a person who [is an officer of a religious |
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organization and who] is authorized by a religious [the] |
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organization to conduct a marriage ceremony; and |
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(8) [(4)] a current, former, or retired federal judge |
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or state judge. |
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(b) For the purposes of Subsection (a)(8) [(a)(4)], |
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"federal judge" and "state judge" have the meanings assigned by |
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Section 25.025, Tax Code. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a marriage ceremony that is conducted on or after the effective |
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date of this Act. A marriage ceremony conducted before the |
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effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the |
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date the ceremony was conducted, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |