SCR6 - Designating Rockwall County as the official Marriage Capital of Texas for a 10-year period ending in 2035.

      S.C.R. No. 6         SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION   WHEREAS, For more than 90 years, Rockwall County has been a   sought-after destination for brides- and grooms-to-be, and its   popularity as a marriage location is known throughout the Lone Star   State; and          WHEREAS, Couples have flocked to Rockwall County to tie the   knot since the early decades of the 20th century, and the area   gained further acclaim during the 1940s and 1950s, when the county   took a unique approach to administrating marriages; a night   watchman at the courthouse, Gene Payne, filled in as the deputy   county clerk, which allowed marriage licenses to be issued at all   hours; in addition, a local doctor kept his office open late to   provide the blood tests that were required before a license could be   issued; the popularity of Rockwall County as a place to say "I do"   was such that justice of the peace Mildred Barnes, one of only a few   women in the state to serve in that role at the time, officiated the   weddings of more than 6,000 couples from 1952 to 1957; and          WHEREAS, The practice of issuing marriage licenses around the   clock ended in the 1950s, when the county was required by law to   provide this service during regular business hours; nevertheless,   the county has remained a top choice for prospective newlyweds   drawn by the uncommon beauty and elegance of its marriage   certificates, which have long been among the most coveted in the   state; the county is further admired for its wide selection of   wedding venues that suit a variety of tastes and styles, ranging   from luxurious manors to scenic gardens and pastoral ranch venues;   and          WHEREAS, Rockwall County has long served as the setting where   couples have shared their vows and embarked upon a momentous   journey together, and it is indeed fitting that the county be   formally recognized for its special connection to the institution   of marriage, both historically and in the present day; now,   therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas   hereby designate Rockwall County as the official Marriage Capital   of Texas; and, be it further          RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of   Section 391.003(e), Government Code, this designation remain in   effect until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is   finally passed by the legislature.         ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House              ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                 I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 6 was adopted by the Senate   on April 10, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.   ______________________________                                               Secretary of the Senate          I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 6 was adopted by the House   on May 16, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 84, Nays 38,   three present not voting.   ______________________________                                               Chief Clerk of the House       Approved:     ______________________________                Date       ______________________________              Governor