89R24198 SCF-D
 
  By: Harris, Metcalf H.B. No. 1397
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1397:
 
  By:  Metcalf C.S.H.B. No. 1397
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
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.  Subchapter L, Chapter 441, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 441.207 to read as follows:
         Sec. 441.207.  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 commission is responsible for the care and custody
  of the victory or death letter, the Texas Constitution, and the
  Texas Declaration of Independence.
         (c)  The 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 commission designates an appropriate place in
  the Alamo complex to display the victory or death letter and in
  collaboration with the Texas Historical Commission determines an
  appropriate time to securely transfer the letter to that place, the
  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 commission shall collaborate with the Texas
  Historical Commission and State Preservation Board to determine an
  appropriate public location at the Capitol Complex for the secure
  display of the Texas Constitution and the Texas Declaration of
  Independence.
         (f)  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 commission, using money available
  to the commission for that purpose.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.