Monitoring the Session

HB 1397

bill moving the “victory or death” letter to the Alamo

Became law, effective Sep 1, 2025

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Cody HarrisRHouse 8

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to the transfer and the care and custody of the letter known as the victory or death letter.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

The General Land Office takes sole charge of the letter.

The bill moves the original Travis "Victory or Death" letter of February 24, 1836, from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to the General Land Office. It puts the land office in sole charge of the letter and requires it to pick a place in the Alamo complex to store and display it. Once the law takes effect on September 1, 2025, the archives agency must hand the letter over as soon as practicable, and any other agency's power over the letter ends.

Labels

Labels: ACROSS THE AISLE. Joint authors: 4 Republicans, 1 Democrat. Party as the Legislative Reference Library lists it for the 89th Legislature.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB1397 · 2024-11-19

SOLD BY

Rep. Cody HarrisRHouse 8 Rep. Will MetcalfRHouse 16 Rep. Richard Peña RaymondDHouse 42

+ 2 more authors

ITEM

relating to the transfer and the care and custody of the letter known as the victory or death letter.

WHAT IT DOES

The General Land Office takes sole charge of the letter.

The bill moves the original Travis "Victory or Death" letter of February 24, 1836, from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission to the General Land Office. It puts the land office in sole charge of the letter and requires it to pick a place in the Alamo complex to store and display it. Once the law takes effect on September 1, 2025, the archives agency must hand the letter over as soon as practicable, and any other agency's power over the letter ends.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 26, 2025

There would be an indeterminate cost to the state dependent on the specific parameters and type of encasements used to house the three historical documents outlined in the bill.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to Culture, Recreation & Tourism
  4. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  5. Considered in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in committee
  7. Left pending in committee
  8. Considered in public hearing
  9. Committee substitute considered in committee
  10. Reported favorably as substituted
  11. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  12. Committee report distributed
  13. Committee report sent to Calendars
  14. Considered in Calendars
  15. Placed on General State Calendar
  16. Read 2nd time
  17. Amended 1-Metcalf and Harris
  18. Passed to engrossment as amended
  19. Record vote RV#860
  20. Read 3rd time
  21. Passed
  22. Record vote RV#1007
  23. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  24. Reported engrossed
  25. Received from the House
  26. Read first time
  27. Referred to Economic Development
  28. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  29. Considered in public hearing
  30. Left pending in committee
  31. Considered in public hearing
  32. Vote taken in committee
  33. Reported favorably as substituted
  34. Committee report printed and distributed
  35. Placed on intent calendar
  36. Co-sponsor authorized
  37. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  38. Vote recorded in Journal
  39. Read 2nd time
  40. Amendment(s) offered FA1 Middleton
  41. Amended
  42. Vote recorded in Journal
  43. Passed to 3rd reading as amended
  44. Vote recorded in Journal
  45. Three day rule suspended
  46. Record vote
  47. Read 3rd time
  48. Passed
  49. Record vote
  50. Senate passage as amended reported
  51. Senate Amendments distributed
  52. Senate Amendments Analysis distributed
  53. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)
  54. Record vote RV#4018
  55. Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
  56. Text of Senate Amendment(s)
  57. House concurs in Senate amendment(s)-reported
  58. Reported enrolled
  59. Signed in the House
  60. Signed in the Senate
  61. Sent to the Governor
  62. Signed by the Governor
  63. Effective on 9/1/25
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 143 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 29 yea · 2 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · Apr 30, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · May 23, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Cody Harris

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$131KTexas Sands PAC$59KTexas REALTORS Political Action Committee$53K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 31, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$131,199.90

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$131,199.90

Cash
$65,000.00
Paid by others
$66,199.90
Total
$131,199.90
grassroots $56,899.90polling $9,300.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Sep 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101008254, 101028696, 101039343, 101067574.

Texas Sands PAC$58,800.00

Texas Sands PAC

$58,800.00

Cash
$42,500.00
Paid by others
$16,300.00
Total
$58,800.00
polling $16,300.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100985564, 101028696, 101039343, 101071425.

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee$52,590.39

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$52,590.39

Cash
$45,000.00
Paid by others
$7,590.39
Total
$52,590.39
digital $5,420.63text $1,960.28Other filed descriptions $209.48

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 11, 2024 to Sep 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100985564, 101008254, 101028696, 101035469, 101039343, 101057705, 101067574.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$131,199.90

Cash
$65,000.00
Paid by others
$66,199.90
Total
$131,199.90
grassroots $56,899.90polling $9,300.00

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 27, 2025 to Sep 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101008254, 101028696, 101039343, 101067574.

×

Texas Sands PAC

$58,800.00

Cash
$42,500.00
Paid by others
$16,300.00
Total
$58,800.00
polling $16,300.00

Also funds 121 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Nov 22, 2024 to Oct 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100985564, 101028696, 101039343, 101071425.

×

Texas REALTORS Political Action Committee

$52,590.39

Cash
$45,000.00
Paid by others
$7,590.39
Total
$52,590.39
digital $5,420.63text $1,960.28Other filed descriptions $209.48

Also funds 140 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Dec 11, 2024 to Sep 21, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100985564, 101008254, 101028696, 101035469, 101039343, 101057705, 101067574.

Votes7

House May 29, 2025

Yea
141
Nay
0
Present, not voting
1
Absent
3
Excused
5
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 4018

Representative Gerdes moved to concur in the senate amendments to HB 1397. The motion to concur in the senate amendments to HB 1397 prevailed by (Record 4018): 141 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 141 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 3 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 23, 2025

Yea
29
Nay
2
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2. (Same as previous roll call)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 29 (published)
  • Nay: 2 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 23, 2025

Yea
29
Nay
2
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Middleton moved that Senate Rule 7.18 and the Constitutional Rule requiring bills to be read on three several days be suspended and that CSHB 1397 be placed on its third reading and final passage. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 2.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 29 (published)
  • Nay: 2 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 23, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

CSHB 1397 as amended was passed to third reading by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 23, 2025

Yea
Not printed
Nay
Not printed
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
Not printed
Excused
Not printed
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Names were not printed for yea. Only the named positions are included in member records.

Voice vote. No numeric tally or individual yeas are inferred.

Sources

The amendment to CSHB 1397 was read and was adopted by a viva voce vote.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: Not printed
  • Nay: Not printed
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: Not printed
  • Excused: Not printed

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 30, 2025

Yea
143
Nay
0
Present, not voting
1
Absent
1
Excused
5
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 1007

HB 1397 was passed by (Record 1007): 143 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 143 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 5 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

House Apr 29, 2025

Yea
148
Nay
0
Present, not voting
1
Absent
1
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

House journal

Sources

Record 860

CSHB 1397, as amended, was passed to engrossment by (Record 860): 148 Yeas, 0 Nays, 1 Present, not voting.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 148 (published)
  • Nay: 0 (published)
  • Present, not voting: 1 (published)
  • Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

House journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses7
For
1
Against
2
On
4
Names

For

  • Self1 registration

Against

  • Self2 registrations

On

  • General Land Office2 registrations
  • Texas State Librart and Archives Commission1 registration
  • Texas State Library and Archives Commission1 registration
Sources

7 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

House witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version F · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version F · May 26, 2025

There would be an indeterminate cost to the state dependent on the specific parameters and type of encasements used to house the three historical documents outlined in the bill.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Nov 19, 2024

06/20/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · House Committee Report · Engrossed · Senate Committee Report · Enrolled

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 6:51 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Sponsors
Mayes MiddletonRSenate 11
Cosponsors
Brandon CreightonRSenate 4

House committee · Culture, Recreation & Tourism · Committee vote 6 aye, 0 nay, 3 absent · Out of committee

Senate committee · Economic Development · Committee vote 4 aye, 1 nay · Out of committee

Subjects

Historic Preservation & Museums

Libraries & Librarians

State Symbols

ALAMO, THE

GENERAL LAND OFFICE

HISTORICAL COMMISSION, TEXAS

PRESERVATION BOARD, STATE

STATE LIBRARY & ARCHIVES COMMISSION, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 219 words

89R463 SCP-D

By: Harris
H.B. No. 1397

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the transfer and the care and custody of the letter

known as the victory or death letter.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter I, Chapter 31, Natural Resources

Code, is amended by adding Section 31.4515 to read as follows:

Sec. 31.4515. CARE AND CUSTODY OF VICTORY OR DEATH LETTER;

DISPLAY. (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 land office is responsible for the care and custody

of the victory or death letter.

(c) The land office shall designate an appropriate place in

the Alamo complex for the storage and display of the victory or

death letter.

(d) Any power or duty related to the victory or death letter

formerly vested in another state agency or entity is vested solely

in the land office.

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the Texas State Library and Archives Commission shall

transfer the letter described by Section 31.4515(a), Natural

Resources Code, as added by this Act, to the General Land Office.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.