Bill > HB1193

This bill modifies Texas law regarding declarations of informal marriage to provide enhanced privacy protections for individuals. Specifically, the bill adds a new checkbox to the declaration of informal marriage form that allows either party to request confidentiality of their personal identifying information. If this box is checked, county clerks are prohibited from publicly publishing or releasing personal details such as date of birth, place of birth, address, and social security number, beyond the parties' names. Similarly, the vital statistics unit (the state's record-keeping agency for marriages) is restricted from sharing these personal details with anyone other than the parties to the marriage or their legal representatives. The changes only apply to informal marriage declarations executed on or after the bill's effective date (September 1, 2025), meaning older declarations will continue to be governed by previous privacy rules. This legislation aims to give individuals more control over the public accessibility of their personal information when documenting an informal marriage, potentially protecting them from privacy concerns or potential risks associated with widespread personal data disclosure.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB1193