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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the care, custody, and display of the letter known as |
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the victory or death letter, the Texas Constitution, and the Texas |
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Declaration of Independence. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter L, Chapter 441, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 441.207 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 441.207. CARE, CUSTODY, AND DISPLAY OF VICTORY OR |
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DEATH LETTER, TEXAS CONSTITUTION, AND TEXAS DECLARATION OF |
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INDEPENDENCE. (a) In this section, "victory or death letter" means |
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the letter written by Lieutenant Colonel William B. Travis dated |
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February 24, 1836, and signed "Victory or Death." |
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(b) The commission is responsible for the care and custody |
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of the victory or death letter, the Texas Constitution, and the |
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Texas Declaration of Independence. The commission is responsible |
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for the safety and preservation of the victory or death letter at |
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all times, including when the letter is in the direct custody of the |
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commission, in storage, or on display in the Alamo complex, Capitol |
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Complex, or another site the commission determines appropriate |
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under Subsection (f). |
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(c) The commission shall: |
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(1) designate an appropriate place in the Alamo |
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complex for the secure display of the victory or death letter; and |
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(2) on the Texas Historical Commission's determination |
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that the transfer to and display of the letter at the Alamo complex |
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is safe and appropriate, transfer the letter to that location for |
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display. |
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(d) Until the commission designates an appropriate place in |
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the Alamo complex to display the victory or death letter and in |
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collaboration with the Texas Historical Commission determines an |
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appropriate time to securely transfer the letter to that place, the |
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commission shall display the victory or death letter in the public |
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location at the Capitol Complex at which the Texas Constitution and |
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the Texas Declaration of Independence are displayed as required by |
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Subsection (e). |
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(e) The commission shall collaborate with the Texas |
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Historical Commission and State Preservation Board to determine an |
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appropriate public location at the Capitol Complex for the secure |
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display of the Texas Constitution and the Texas Declaration of |
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Independence. |
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(e-1) The commission, in consultation and collaboration |
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with the Texas Historical Commission and the State Preservation |
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Board and not later than December 1, 2027, shall: |
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(1) develop a plan to display: |
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(A) the Texas Declaration of Independence and the |
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Texas Constitution in the Capitol Complex; and |
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(B) the victory or death letter in the Alamo |
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complex and other sites the commission determines appropriate under |
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Subsection (f); |
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(2) publish the plan on the commission's Internet |
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website; and |
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(3) provide a copy of the plan to the standing |
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committees of the legislature with jurisdiction over the state's |
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historical resources. |
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(e-2) Subsection (e-1) and this subsection expire September |
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1, 2031. |
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(f) The commission, in consultation and collaboration with |
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the Texas Historical Commission and the State Preservation Board, |
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may authorize for a limited period the display of the Texas |
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Constitution, the Texas Declaration of Independence, or the victory |
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or death letter at a museum, historical event, or historical site. |
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(g) Costs attributable to the display of the victory or |
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death letter, the Texas Constitution, and the Texas Declaration of |
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Independence shall be paid by the commission, using money available |
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to the commission for that purpose. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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