Texas House Bill HB3008

Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Caption

Relating to annulment of a marriage on the grounds of impotency.

Impact

The enactment of HB 3008 would affect individuals seeking annulment under these specific circumstances, thereby potentially increasing clarity and legal consistency regarding marriages that end under the grounds of impotency. By formally including impotency within the annulment provisions, the law recognizes this condition as a valid reason for voiding a marriage, which might provide relief for individuals who find themselves in such situations. This could also have implications for the courts in terms of how cases of annulment are processed.

Summary

House Bill 3008 addresses the grounds for annulment of marriage in Texas, specifically focusing on the aspect of impotency. The bill amends Section 6.106 of the Family Code, providing a legal framework under which a marriage can be annulled if one party was permanently impotent at the time of the marriage, the other party was unaware of this condition, and cohabitation ceases within one year of the petitioner learning about the impotency. This legislation emphasizes the importance of mutual consent and awareness in marital relationships.

Contention

Although there is no significant recorded opposition to HB 3008 in the available discussions, the introduction of specific grounds for annulment can occasionally spark debate among advocates for marriage rights and personal freedoms. Some may argue that such classifications should not be legislated, preferring to leave such decisions to individual circumstances and the discretion of family courts. Nevertheless, the bill aims to solidify the legal understanding of impotency's role in marriage annulment, which may be welcomed by attorneys and legal professionals working in family law.