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TexasHB 224089th Legislature Regular SessionHouse

Relating to certain void marriages.

Sponsored By: Harold V. Dutton Jr., Judith Zaffirini (Democratic)

Signed by Governor

Family--Marriage RelationshipDIVORCE

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Spouses can challenge invalid divorce orders

A Texas divorce or annulment order is void if the court lacked legal authority over the case when it ruled. A putative spouse—a person who believed they were legally married—can sue to have that order declared void.

New validity rules for later marriages

In Texas, a marriage invalid because one spouse was already married becomes valid after the earlier marriage ends. The couple must then live together as spouses and tell others they are married. A spouse who did not know about the earlier marriage can sue to keep the later marriage void. After learning about it, that spouse must neither live with the other person as a spouse nor present themselves as married. The filing deadline is 30 days after learning about the earlier marriage, or 90 days for specified military and foreign-service personnel. The longer deadline covers active-duty U.S. service members and State Department foreign officers serving abroad. It also covers Texas military members deployed abroad on federal orders or performing emergency response on state active duty.

More response time for military spouses

Certain military and foreign-service spouses get 90 days after being served to answer a lawsuit challenging a later marriage’s validity. This applies to active-duty U.S. service members and State Department foreign officers serving outside the United States. It also covers Texas military members deployed abroad on federal orders or performing emergency response on state active duty.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Harold V. Dutton Jr.

    House

  • Judith Zaffirini

    Democratic • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 287 • No: 18

House vote • 5/29/2025

Record vote

Yes: 128 • No: 10

Senate vote • 5/27/2025

Record vote

Yes: 0 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/27/2025

Record vote

Yes: 0 • No: 0

House vote • 5/6/2025

Record vote

Yes: 138 • No: 8

House vote • Unknown

Committee vote: Judiciary & Civil Jurisprudence

Yes: 11 • No: 0

Senate vote • Unknown

Committee vote: State Affairs

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective immediately

    6/20/2025House

  2. Signed by the Governor

    6/20/2025House

  3. Sent to the Governor

    6/1/2025House

  4. Signed in the Senate

    6/1/2025Senate

  5. Signed in the House

    5/31/2025House

  6. Reported enrolled

    5/30/2025House

  7. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported

    5/29/2025Senate

  8. Text of Senate Amendment(s)

    5/29/2025House

  9. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal

    5/29/2025House

  10. Record vote (RV#4041)

    5/29/2025House

  11. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)

    5/29/2025House

  12. Senate Amendments Analysis distributed

    5/28/2025House

  13. Senate Amendments distributed

    5/28/2025House

  14. Senate passage as amended reported

    5/28/2025House

  15. Placed on local & uncontested calendar

    5/28/2025Senate

  16. Record vote

    5/27/2025Senate

  17. Passed

    5/27/2025Senate

  18. Read 3rd time

    5/27/2025Senate

  19. Record vote

    5/27/2025Senate

  20. Three day rule suspended

    5/27/2025Senate

  21. Vote recorded in Journal

    5/27/2025Senate

  22. Passed to 3rd reading as amended

    5/27/2025Senate

  23. Vote recorded in Journal

    5/27/2025Senate

  24. Amended

    5/27/2025Senate

  25. Amendment(s) offered (FA1 Birdwell)

    5/27/2025Senate

Bill Text

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