Houston Republic

Rep. Jon Rosenthal introduced HB 168, a bill on Family, to the Texas House on Monday, April 7 during the 89(R) legislative session, according to the Texas Legislature website.

More specifically, the official text was summarized by the state legislature as ’’Relating to the age at which a person in this state may marry’’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

This bill amends the Texas Family Code to prohibit the issuance of a marriage license to individuals under 18, eliminating exceptions previously allowed through court orders from Texas or other states that removed disabilities of minority. It stipulates that a marriage is void if any party is younger than 18, regardless of any court-ordered minority removal. The bill repeals Section 2.003 of the Family Code and specifies that these changes apply only to marriage license applications and marriages entered into on or after the bill's effective date. The bill will take effect on Sept. 1, 2025.

Jon Rosenthal, member of the House Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs and vice chair of the House Committee on Redistricting, proposed another 29 bills during the 89(R) legislative session.

Rosenthal graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1991 with a BS.

Jon Rosenthal is currently serving in the Texas State House, representing the state's 135th House district. He replaced previous state representative Gary Elkins in 2019.

Bills in Texas go through a multi-step legislative process, including committee review, debates, and votes in both chambers before reaching a final decision. Each session, there are typically thousands of bills introduced, but only a portion successfully navigate the process to become law.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Bill Number	Date Introduced	Short Description
HB 4484	04/03/2025	Relating to the confidentiality of certain personal information in the custody of certain law enforcement and health care agencies of this state
HB 4477	04/03/2025	Relating to the requirement to employ an adequate staff for a civil service commission of certain counties
HB 3596	03/25/2025	Relating to prevention of and safety requirements regarding sudden cardiac arrest affecting public school students participating in interscholastic athletics
HB 3451	03/24/2025	Relating to a change of name and sex for certain persons and the issuance of associated birth records and documentation; authorizing a fee
HB 2755	03/19/2025	Relating to requirements for and transparency of epidemiological reports and immunization exemption information and reports
HB 1763	03/14/2025	Relating to repealing certain offenses and removing certain regulations relating to marihuana, cannabis, cannabinoids, synthetic cannabinoids, and paraphernalia
HB 1750	03/14/2025	Relating to the processing, manufacture, and sale of hemp products for smoking
HB 1603	03/12/2025	Relating to the authority of the Public Utility Commission of Texas to ensure the independent organization certified for the ERCOT power region has adequate reserve power to prevent blackout conditions
HB 1602	03/12/2025	Relating to the prosecution and punishment of a criminal offense relating to making false statements or reports of child abuse or neglect
HB 1601	03/12/2025	Relating to the prohibition, prevention, and remedying of certain discrimination
HB 1599	03/12/2025	Relating to a handgun safety course required for the transfer of a handgun
HB 613	03/04/2025	Relating to the interconnection of the ERCOT power grid to grids outside the ERCOT power region
HB 608	03/04/2025	Relating to electric power purchased for the ERCOT power region
HB 575	03/03/2025	Relating to preparation for and response to weather emergencies that affect certain natural gas facilities; increasing the amount of civil and administrative penalties
HB 574	03/03/2025	Relating to the use of adaptive model data analytics software by the independent organization certified to manage the ERCOT power region
HB 532	03/03/2025	Relating to the applicability to open-enrollment charter schools of certain law regarding travel expenses
HB 531	03/03/2025	Relating to the use of certain devices by a person occupying a voting station
HB 501	03/03/2025	Relating to the advertisement of disposable wipes as flushable; authorizing a civil penalty
HB 489	02/28/2025	Relating to the temperature at which a facility operated by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is maintained
HB 471	02/28/2025	Relating to the intake and disposition records of animal shelters and releasing agencies
HB 459	02/28/2025	Relating to the establishment by the Railroad Commission of Texas of a policy to eliminate the routine flaring of natural gas from wells or other facilities regulated by the commission
HB 438	02/28/2025	Relating to prohibiting an increase in the rent of a tenant residing in a development supported with a low income housing tax credit allocation
HB 435	02/28/2025	Relating to prohibiting carrying a firearm while intoxicated; creating a criminal offense
HB 410	02/28/2025	Relating to pet deposits or fees collected by landlords
HB 362	02/28/2025	Relating to the assignment of public school students enrolled in certain school districts to an uncertified teacher
HB 302	02/28/2025	Relating to a prohibition of employment discrimination on the basis of reproductive decisions and certain employment agreements limiting reproductive decisions
HB 270	02/27/2025	Relating to civil liability for discriminatory false reports to law enforcement agencies or emergency service providers
HB 230	02/27/2025	Relating to the establishment of the office of community violence intervention and prevention within the Department of State Health Services and a grant program for violence intervention and prevention services
HB 224	02/27/2025	Relating to contracting with companies that boycott or discriminate against certain entities