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HB2240 • 2025
Relating to certain void marriages.
This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.
Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.
Relating to certain void marriages.
Signed by the Governor
Effective immediately
Signed in the Senate
Sent to the Governor
Signed in the House
Reported enrolled
House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
Record vote. RV#4041
Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
Text of Senate Amendment(s)
House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
Placed on local & uncontested calendar
Senate passage as amended reported
Senate Amendments distributed
Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
Placed on intent calendar
Rules suspended-Regular order of business
Read 2nd time
Amendment(s) offered. FA1 Birdwell
Amended
Vote recorded in Journal
Passed to 3rd reading as amended
Vote recorded in Journal
Three day rule suspended
Record vote
Read 3rd time
Passed
Record vote
Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Considered in public hearing
Vote taken in committee
Reported favorably w/o amendments
Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
Committee report printed and distributed
Rereferred to committee
Referred to State Affairs
Read first time
Referred to Jurisprudence
Read 3rd time
Passed
Record vote. RV#1458
Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
Reported engrossed
Received from the House
Placed on General State Calendar
Read 2nd time
Passed to engrossment
Considered in Calendars
Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
Committee report distributed
Committee report sent to Calendars
Recalled from subcommittee
Considered in formal meeting
Committee substitute considered in committee
Reported favorably as substituted
Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .
Considered by s/c in public hearing
Committee substitute considered in s/c
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
Left pending in subcommittee
Read first time
Referred to s/c on Family & Fiduciary Relationships by Speaker
Filed
Relating to certain void marriages.
89(R) HB 2240 - Enrolled version - Bill Text H.B. No. 2240 AN ACT relating to certain void marriages. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 6.202, Family Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: (b) The later marriage that is void under this section becomes valid when the prior marriage is dissolved if, after the date of the dissolution, the parties have lived together as husband and wife and represented themselves to others as being married , unless a putative spouse: (1) did not know that the later marriage was entered into when the other party had an existing marriage; (2) has not lived together with the other party as spouses or represented himself or herself as married since the date the putative spouse knew the later marriage was entered into when the other party had an existing marriage; and (3) files a suit to declare the later marriage void not later than: (A) the 30th day after the date the putative spouse knew that the later marriage was entered into when the other party had an existing marriage, unless the putative spouse is a person described by Paragraph (B); or (B) the 90th day after the date the putative spouse knew that the later marriage was entered into when the other party had an existing marriage, if the putative spouse: (i) is serving on active duty as a member of the United States armed forces; (ii) is a member of the Texas military forces, as defined by Section 437.001, Government Code, and: (a) is actively deployed on federal orders outside the United States; or (b) is on state active duty performing emergency response activities for this state; or (iii) is in active service outside the United States as a foreign officer employed by the United States Department of State . (c) Notwithstanding any other law or rule, if a putative spouse files a suit to declare the marriage void under Subsection (b)(3), a respondent spouse may file an answer on or before the 90th day after the date the respondent spouse is served if the respondent spouse: (1) is serving on active duty as a member of the United States armed forces; (2) is a member of the Texas military forces, as defined by Section 437.001, Government Code, and: (A) is actively deployed on federal orders outside the United States; or (B) is on state active duty performing emergency response activities for this state; or (3) is in active service outside the United States as a foreign officer employed by the United States Department of State. SECTION 2. Chapter 9, Family Code, is amended by adding Subchapter E to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER E. DECLARING A DECREE VOID Sec. 9.401. LACK OF JURISDICTION. (a) A decree of divorce or annulment is void if the court rendering the decree lacked jurisdiction at the time the decree was rendered. (b) A putative spouse may file a suit to declare a decree of divorce or annulment void under Subsection (a). SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025. ______________________________ ______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 2240 was passed by the House on May 6, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 138, Nays 8, 1 present, not voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2240 on May 29, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 128, Nays 10, 1 present, not voting. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 2240 was passed by the Senate, with amendments, on May 27, 2025, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1. ______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________ Date __________________ Governor