SB 2053: bill creating the Governor’s Medal of Service

Caption

relating to creating the Governor's Medal of Service award to recognize service to the people of Texas.

Summary

Eligible: retired public servants, private citizens, and members of the Texas Legislature.

The bill creates a Governor's Medal of Service award that the governor may give to a Texas resident who honorably retired from state or local public service, did extraordinary work for Texans in the private sector, or did extraordinary work as a member of the Texas Legislature. The governor may give out no more than two medals a year, and the governor's office may ask for and accept gifts, grants and donations from public or private sources to pay for setting up and running the award. Nothing is required to happen; the bill only makes an honor available starting September 1, 2025.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB2053 · 2025-03-07

SOLD BY

Sen. Brian BirdwellRSenate 22

+ 1 coauthor

ITEM

relating to creating the Governor's Medal of Service award to recognize service to the people of Texas.

WHAT IT DOES

Eligible: retired public servants, private citizens, and members of the Texas Legislature.

The bill creates a Governor's Medal of Service award that the governor may give to a Texas resident who honorably retired from state or local public service, did extraordinary work for Texans in the private sector, or did extraordinary work as a member of the Texas Legislature. The governor may give out no more than two medals a year, and the governor's office may ask for and accept gifts, grants and donations from public or private sources to pay for setting up and running the award. Nothing is required to happen; the bill only makes an honor available starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 11, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

Mar 7, 2025Received by the Secretary of the Senate
Mar 7, 2025Filed
Mar 17, 2025Read first time
Mar 17, 2025Referred to Administration
Apr 14, 2025Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
Apr 14, 2025Considered in public hearing
Apr 14, 2025Vote taken in committee
Apr 14, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendments
Apr 14, 2025Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
Apr 14, 2025Committee report printed and distributed
Apr 16, 2025Co-author authorized
Apr 16, 2025Placed on local & uncontested calendar
Apr 16, 2025Laid before the Senate
Apr 16, 2025Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment
Apr 16, 2025Vote recorded in Journal
Apr 16, 2025Three day rule suspended
Apr 16, 2025Record vote
Apr 16, 2025Read 3rd time
Apr 16, 2025Passed
Apr 16, 2025Record vote
Apr 16, 2025Reported engrossed
Apr 17, 2025Received from the Senate
Apr 22, 2025Read first time
Apr 22, 2025Referred to State Affairs
May 1, 2025Considered in formal meeting
May 1, 2025Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
May 6, 2025Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
May 6, 2025Committee report distributed
May 6, 2025Committee report sent to Calendars
May 14, 2025Considered in Calendars
May 16, 2025Placed on General State Calendar
May 19, 2025Read 2nd time
May 19, 2025Passed to 3rd reading
May 19, 2025Record vote RV#2948
May 19, 2025Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal
May 20, 2025Read 3rd time
May 20, 2025Passed
May 20, 2025Record vote RV#3018
May 20, 2025House passage reported
May 20, 2025Reported enrolled
May 21, 2025Signed in the Senate
May 21, 2025Signed in the House
May 21, 2025Sent to the Governor
May 30, 2025Signed by the Governor
May 30, 2025Effective on 9/1/25

ALSO NOTED · NOT CHARGED (2)

RENAMING AND CEREMONIAL · analysis confidence 80%

THE TEXT

“The governor may, at the governor's discretion, award not more than two Governor's Medal of Service awards each year.”

Bill text, introduced version (I)

The bill creates an honorary award and does nothing beyond letting the governor give it and letting the governor's office accept gifts to run it. The caption says exactly that.

LIST OF FEELINGS · analysis confidence 50%

THE TEXT

“The Governor's Medal of Service award may be awarded to a resident of”…

Bill text, introduced version (I)

Every operative verb in the bill is 'may'. No one is required to give an award, accept a gift or meet a deadline, and no penalty exists.

FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

SIGNED FOR BY

House · 146 yea · 0 nay

Senate · 31 yea · 0 nay

Sources

House: Final passage · May 20, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate: Final passage · Apr 16, 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

Brian Birdwell

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC Austin TX$30,000

Good Government Fund Fort Worth TX$10,000

Texas Oil & Gas Assn. Good Govt. Cmte Austin TX$10,000

Derived from itemized gifts, Jul 1, 2024 to Jun 30, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

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

$353,800 raised since Jul 1, 2024. Derived sum of published report totals. blank in the state's data, consistent with zero. Flow, Jul 1, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026. 4 of 4 filed reports carry a published figure.

$502,039 spent since Jul 1, 2024. Derived sum of published report totals. Flow, Jul 1, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026. 4 of 4 filed reports carry a published figure.

$731,044 cash on hand. Published report total. Stock, as of Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.

$0 loans outstanding. Published report total. Stock, as of Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived sum of itemized contributions in regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Unitemized contributions are not included. Flow, Jul 1, 2024 through Jun 30, 2026. State filing data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Money

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

Votes5

House May 20, 2025

Yea: 146
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 1
Excused: 1

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 3018

SB 2053 was passed by (Record 3018): 146 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 146 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
Excused: 1 (derived from named list)

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

House May 19, 2025

Yea: 143
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: 2
Absent: 1
Excused: 4

Names

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

House journal

Sources

Record 2948

SB 2053 was passed to third reading by (Record 2948): 143 Yeas, 0 Nays, 2 Present, not voting.

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

Yea: 143 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: 2 (published)
Absent: 1 (derived from named list)
Excused: 4 (derived from named list)

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

Senate Apr 16, 2025

Final passage

Yea: 31
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records final passage. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

SB 2053 (Birdwell) Relating to creating the Governor's Medal of Service award to recognize service to the people of Texas. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

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

Yea: 31 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

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

Senate Apr 16, 2025

Suspension of the three-day rule

Yea: 31
Nay: 0
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records suspension of the three-day rule. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

Sources

SB 2053 (Birdwell) Relating to creating the Governor's Medal of Service award to recognize service to the people of Texas. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

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

Yea: 31 (published)
Nay: 0 (published)
Present, not voting: Not printed
Absent: Not printed
Excused: Not printed

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

Senate Apr 16, 2025

Passage to engrossment

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

Names

Senate journal

Names were not printed. No individual positions are inferred.

The journal row lists three votes in order: passage to engrossment, suspension of the three-day rule, and final passage. This entry records passage to engrossment. Repeated tallies belong to separate votes.

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

Sources

SB 2053 (Birdwell) Relating to creating the Governor's Medal of Service award to recognize service to the people of Texas. (viva voce vote) (31-0) (31-0)

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.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version I · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 11, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Adversarial review by claude-fable-5-1 at high effort: No flags.

Analysis of text version I by claude-fable-5-1, Oct 21, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Mar 7, 2025

05/30/2025 E Effective on 9/1/25

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

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors

Royce WestDSenate 23

Companion

HB 4439 by Metcalf (identical)

Subjects

Governor

AWARDS, MEDALS, PRIZES

Text

The text as introduced · 214 words

89R13874 MCK-D

By: Birdwell
S.B. No. 2053

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to creating the Governor's Medal of Service award to

recognize service to the people of Texas.

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

SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 11, Government Code, is

amended by adding Chapter 3108 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 3108. GOVERNOR'S MEDAL OF SERVICE AWARD

Sec. 3108.001. GOVERNOR'S MEDAL OF SERVICE AWARD. (a) The

Governor's Medal of Service award may be awarded to a resident of

this state who:

(1) honorably retired from a position of public

service in state or local government;

(2) contributed to the residents of this state in an

extraordinary way through the individual's work in the private

sector; or

(3) contributed to the residents of this state in an

extraordinary way as a member of the Texas Legislature.

(b) The governor may, at the governor's discretion, award

not more than two Governor's Medal of Service awards each year.

Sec. 3108.002. GIFTS. The office of the governor may

solicit and accept gifts, grants, and donations from any public or

private source for any expenses related to the administration of

the Governor's Medal of Service award, including establishing the

award.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Verdict: No flags

The receipt

SOLD BY

ITEM

WHAT IT DOES

CHARGES

TOTAL

HISTORY

SIGNED FOR BY

Donors

House May 20, 2025

House May 19, 2025

Senate Apr 16, 2025

Senate Apr 16, 2025

Senate Apr 16, 2025

Companion