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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the return of a completed marriage license to a county |
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clerk after the marriage ceremony. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 2.206, Family Code, is amended by adding |
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Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (b) to read as follows: |
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(a-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a person who conducts |
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a marriage ceremony may authorize the parties to the marriage to |
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return the recorded and subscribed license to the county clerk who |
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issued the license not later than the date prescribed by that |
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subsection. |
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(b) A person who fails to comply with Subsection (a) [this |
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section] commits an offense. An offense under this section is a |
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misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $200 and not more |
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than $500. This subsection does not apply to: |
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(1) a person who conducts a marriage ceremony and, as |
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provided by Subsection (a-1), authorizes the parties to the |
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marriage to return the marriage license to the county clerk; or |
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(2) a party to the marriage who is authorized under |
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Subsection (a-1) to return the marriage license to the county |
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clerk. |
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SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a marriage ceremony conducted on or after the effective date of this |
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Act. A marriage ceremony conducted before the effective date of |
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this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the ceremony |
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was conducted, and the former law is continued in effect for that |
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purpose. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |