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, the official text

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