HB5032 - Relating to the display of certain historical state documents.

      By: Metcalf, Harris, Isaac, Hefner, et al. H.B. No. 5032       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the display of certain historical state documents.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter L, Chapter 441, Government Code, is   amended by adding Sections 441.206 and 441.207 to read as follows:           Sec.   441.206.     DISPLAY OF CERTAIN HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS IN   CAPITOL COMPLEX. (a) The commission, in consultation and   collaboration with the State Preservation Board and the Texas   Historical Commission, shall designate an appropriate place in the   Capitol Complex to securely display the Texas Constitution and the   Texas Declaration of Independence.           (b)     The commission shall pay the costs attributable to the   display of the Texas Constitution and the Texas Declaration of   Independence using available funds or funds appropriated to the   commission for that purpose.           (c)     The commission, in consultation and collaboration with   the State Preservation Board and the Texas Historical Commission   and not later than December 1, 2027, shall:                 (1)     develop a plan to display in the Capitol Complex   the Texas Declaration of Independence and the Texas Constitution;                 (2)     publish the plan on the commission'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.           (d)     Subsection (c) and this subsection expire September 1,   2031.           (e)     The commission, in consultation and collaboration with   the State Preservation Board and the Texas Historical Commission,   may authorize for a limited period the display of the Texas   Constitution or the Texas Declaration of Independence at a   historical event or historical site.           Sec.   441.207.     CARE, CUSTODY, AND DISPLAY OF VICTORY OR   DEATH LETTER. (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, in consultation and collaboration with   the State Preservation Board and the Texas Historical Commission,   is responsible for the care and custody of the victory or death   letter.           (c)     The commission shall designate an appropriate place in   the Alamo complex to securely display the victory or death letter.           (d)     Until the commission designates an appropriate place in   the Alamo complex to display the victory or death letter and   determines an appropriate time to securely transfer the letter to   that place, the commission shall display the victory or death   letter at the Capitol Complex with other historical documents,   including the Texas Constitution and Texas Declaration of   Independence.           (e)     Costs attributable to the display of the victory or   death letter under Subsection (c) or (d) shall be paid by money from   the Alamo complex account and are an authorized use of the money   under Section 31.454(e), Natural Resources Code.             (f)     The commission, in consultation and collaboration with   the State Preservation Board and the Texas Historical Commission,   may authorize for a limited period the display of the victory or   death letter at a historical event or historical site.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.