The board must care for, preserve, and display the victory or death letter, the Texas Constitution, and the Texas Declaration of Independence, working with state commissions and meeting the listed deadlines.
For expiration of Subsections (e-1) and (e-2), see Subsection (e-2). 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. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 936 (H.B. 1397), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.