Bill Text: TX HB4621 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Relating to the return of a completed marriage license to a county clerk after the marriage ceremony.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2025-05-16 - Referred to State Affairs [HB4621 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-HB4621-Engrossed.html

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By: Hernandez H.B. No. 4621

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