H.B. No. 1397
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the care, custody, and display of the letter known as
  the victory or death letter, the Texas Constitution, and the Texas
  Declaration of Independence.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 443, Government Code, is amended by
  adding Section 443.031 to read as follows:
         Sec. 443.031.  CARE, CUSTODY, AND DISPLAY OF VICTORY OR
  DEATH LETTER, TEXAS CONSTITUTION, AND TEXAS DECLARATION OF
  INDEPENDENCE. (a) In this section, "victory or death letter" means
  the letter written by Lieutenant Colonel William B. Travis dated
  February 24, 1836, and signed "Victory or Death."
         (b)  The board is responsible for the care and custody of the
  victory or death letter, the Texas Constitution, and the Texas
  Declaration of Independence.  The board is responsible for the
  safety and preservation of the victory or death letter at all times,
  including when the letter is in the direct custody of the board, in
  storage, or on display in the Alamo complex, Capitol Complex, or
  another site the board determines appropriate under Subsection (f).
         (c)  The board, in consultation with the Texas Historical
  Commission and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission,
  shall:
               (1)  designate an appropriate place in the Alamo
  complex for the secure display of the victory or death letter; and
               (2)  on the Texas Historical Commission's determination
  that the transfer to and display of the letter at the Alamo complex
  is safe and appropriate, transfer the letter to that location for
  display.
         (d)  Until the board designates an appropriate place in the
  Alamo complex to display the victory or death letter and in
  collaboration with the Texas Historical Commission and the Texas
  State Library and Archives  Commission determines an appropriate
  time to securely transfer the letter to that place, the board, in
  consultation with the Texas Historical Commission and the Texas
  State Library and Archives Commission, shall display the victory or
  death letter in the public location at the Capitol Complex at which
  the Texas Constitution and the Texas Declaration of Independence
  are displayed as required by Subsection (e).
         (e)  The board shall collaborate with the Texas Historical
  Commission and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to
  determine an appropriate public location at the Capitol Complex for
  the secure display of the Texas Constitution and the Texas
  Declaration of Independence.
         (e-1)  The board, in consultation and collaboration with the
  Texas Historical Commission and the Texas State Library and
  Archives Commission and not later than December 1, 2027, shall:
               (1)  develop a plan to display:
                     (A)  the Texas Declaration of Independence and the
  Texas Constitution in the Capitol Complex; and
                     (B)  the victory or death letter in the Alamo
  complex and other sites the board determines appropriate under
  Subsection (f);
               (2)  publish the plan on the board's Internet website;
  and
               (3)  provide a copy of the plan to the standing
  committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over the state's
  historical resources.
         (e-2)  Subsection (e-1) and this subsection expire September
  1, 2031.
         (f)  The board, in consultation and collaboration with the
  Texas Historical Commission and the Texas State Library and
  Archives Commission, may authorize for a limited period the display
  of the Texas Constitution, the Texas Declaration of Independence,
  or the victory or death letter at a museum, historical event, or
  historical site.
         (g)  Costs attributable to the display of the victory or
  death letter, the Texas Constitution, and the Texas Declaration of
  Independence shall be paid by the board, using money available to
  the board for that purpose.
         SECTION 2.  On the day the Texas Constitution, the Texas
  Declaration of Independence, and the letter described by Section
  443.031(a), Government Code, as added by this Act, are to be
  displayed at the Capitol Complex, as provided by Sections
  443.031(d) and (e), Government Code, as added by this Act, the Texas
  State Library and Archives Commission shall transfer to the State
  Preservation Board the Texas Constitution, the Texas Declaration of
  Independence, and the letter described by Section 443.031(a),
  Government Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1397 was passed by the House on April
  30, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 1397 on May 29, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 141, Nays 0,
  1 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1397 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 23, 2025, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays
  2.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor