HB 4187

relating to the authority and responsibilities of the Texas
Historical Commission; authorizing fees.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 442, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 442.0046 to read as follows:
Sec. 442.0046.  AUTHORITY OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ENTER
CERTAIN CONTRACTS.  (a)  The executive director may negotiate with
and award a contract for goods or services to any qualified vendor
(1)  solicits bids for the goods or services through a
competitive process in compliance with all applicable laws,
including Chapters 2155, 2254, and 2269, that fails to result in
(2)  makes a written determination that resoliciting
bids for the goods or services would:
(A)  be unlikely to result in responsive bids;
(B)  increase costs to the commission; or
(C)  delay the ability of the commission to
(3)  determines that the vendor meets the requirements
(b)  To the extent practicable, the executive director may
combine the procurement of multiple goods or services into a single
competitively bid contract to enhance the contract's attraction for
SECTION 2.  Section 442.005(p), Government Code, is amended
(p)  The commission may accept a gift, grant, devise, or
bequest of money, securities, services, or property to carry out
any purpose of this chapter, including funds raised or services
provided by a volunteer or volunteer group to promote the work of
the commission. The commission shall [may] participate in the
establishment and operation of the [an] affiliated nonprofit
organization described by Subchapter A-1 whose purpose is to raise
funds for or provide services or other benefits to the commission.
SECTION 3.  Subchapter A, Chapter 442, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section  442.034 to read as follows:
Sec. 442.034.  PRESERVATION, MAINTENANCE, AND REPAIR OF
CERTAIN HISTORICAL MARKERS.  (a)  In this section:
(1)  "Civil War centennial marker" means a marker
installed as part of the celebration of the centennial of the Civil
(2)  "Institution of higher education" and "university
system" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003, Education
(3)  "Marker" means a marker, monument, or other
memorial installed on public or private property to commemorate an
area, event, or person that is engraved with text or to which a
(4)  "Republic of Texas centennial marker" means a
marker installed as part of the celebration of the centennial of the
(b)  This section applies only to a Civil War centennial
marker or a Republic of Texas centennial marker that was installed
(1)  the former Centennial Commission;
(2)  the former Texas Civil War Centennial Commission;
(3)  the commission or a predecessor of the commission;
(c)  A Civil War centennial marker or a Republic of Texas
centennial marker is state property, regardless of whether the
marker is located on public or private property.
(d)  The commission has jurisdiction over and is responsible
for the preservation, maintenance, and repair of Civil War
centennial markers and Republic of Texas centennial markers.
(e)  This section may not be construed as transferring
ownership or control of, or the responsibility to preserve,
maintain, or repair, a museum, exhibition building, or other
(1)  associated with or located near a Civil War
centennial marker or a Republic of Texas centennial marker; and
(2)  owned or operated by a private entity,
municipality, county, or institution of higher education or
SECTION 4.  Chapter 442, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter A-1 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER A-1.  FRIENDS OF TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Sec. 442.041.  DEFINITION.  In this subchapter,
"organization" means the Friends of the Texas Historical
Sec. 442.042.  PURPOSE.  (a) The organization is the
affiliated nonprofit organization formed under Section 442.005(p).
(b)  The commission shall designate the organization as the
entity responsible for providing:
(1)  services and other benefits to the commission; and
(2)  financial support as requested by the commission
and approved by the organization's board.
Sec. 442.043.  RULES; GUIDELINES.  (a)  The commission shall
(1)  establishing guidelines under which the
organization may solicit and accept sponsorships or donations from
private entities in connection with commission activities;
(2)  establishing best practices under which the
organization may engage in business activities described by this
subchapter, including procurement guidelines for the use of state
(3)  governing the relationship between the commission
and the organization that, at a minimum:
(A)  define the extent to which commission
employees with regulatory responsibilities, including the
executive director, may participate in activities that raise funds
for the organization, which may not include the direct solicitation
(B)  define the relationship between commission
employees and the organization.
(b)  The commission shall establish guidelines for
identifying and defining the administrative and financial support
the commission may provide for the organization.
Sec. 442.044.  AGREEMENTS.  The organization and the
commission may enter into an agreement for the following purposes:
(1)  expanding, renovating, or improving historic
sites or facilities, including through construction;
(2)  maintaining, preserving, restoring, and
protecting historical markers, monuments, and historic sites;
(3)  promoting and conducting archeological studies;
(4)  designing and fabricating exhibits and
preserving, storing, and displaying artifacts, historical data,
items of historical significance, and other items;
(5)  creating interpretive and educational programs;
(6)  acquiring additional artifacts, historical and
marketing data, real estate, and items of historical significance
relevant to state history, settlement, and culture and state
(7)  supporting programming or providing financial
support for projects of the commission.
Sec. 442.045.  COLLECTION AND USE OF CERTAIN FEE AND REVENUE
RECEIPTS.  (a)  An agreement described by Section 442.044 may
(1)  charge and collect fees in connection with the
organization's activities, including fees for viewing special
exhibits or films, attending programs or events, and using
commission facilities or other facilities; and
(2)  collect revenue from gift shop and concession
(b)  The organization shall hold, invest, manage, use, and
apply money received from the fees and sales described by
Subsection (a) only for the benefit of the commission and may
exercise discretion, subject to the terms of an agreement described
by Section 442.044, regarding business operations, exhibits,
programming, management, preservation, restoration, and site
Sec. 442.046.  OWNERSHIP AND ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY.  The
(1)  retains ownership of property held in the name of
(2)  may acquire items by gift, grant, or purchase
using the organization's money.
Sec. 442.047.  DISPOSITION OF ORGANIZATION ASSETS ON
DISSOLUTION.  (a)  In the event of the organization's dissolution,
the commission is the sole beneficiary of all items held in the
organization's name that relate to the commission, except as
otherwise provided by the organization's articles of incorporation
or the terms of the gift or other transfer of the items to the
(b)  An item for which the commission is not the sole
beneficiary must be clearly identified and described on an agreed
list prepared jointly by the commission and the organization.
Sec. 442.048.  CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION.  The
name, address, and other identifying information of a person who
makes a donation, including a gift, grant, or other financial
contribution, to the organization is confidential and excepted from
SECTION 5.  Section 442.072(a), Government Code, is amended
(a)  The following historic sites in this state are under the
(1)  Acton State Historic Site;
(2)  Barrington Living History Farm State Historic
(3)  Bush Family Home State Historic Site;
(4)  Caddo [Caddoan] Mounds State Historic Site;
(5) [(3)]  Casa Navarro State Historic Site;
(6) [(4)]  Confederate Reunion Grounds State Historic
(7) [(5)]  Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site;
(8) [(6)]  Fannin Battleground State Historic Site;
(9) [(7)]  Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site;
(10) [(8)]  Fort Griffin State Historic Site;
(11) [(9)]  Fort Lancaster State Historic Site;
(12)  Fort Martin Scott State Historic Site;
(13) [(10)]  Fort McKavett State Historic Site;
(14)  French Legation State Historic Site;
(15) [(11)]  Fulton Mansion State Historic Site;
(16)  Goodnight Ranch State Historic Site;
(17)  Harvey House State Historic Site;
(18)  Iwo Jima Monument and Museum State Historic Site;
(19)  Kreische Brewery State Historic Site;
(20) [(12)]  Landmark Inn State Historic Site;
(21) [(13)]  Levi Jordan State Historic Site;
(22) [(14)]  Lipantitlan State Historic Site;
(23) [(15)]  Magoffin Home State Historic Site;
(24) [(16)]  Mission Dolores State Historic Site;
(25) [(17)]  Monument Hill [and Kreische Brewery]
(26) [(18)]  National Museum of the Pacific War;
(27)  Old Socorro Mission State Historic Site;
(28)  Palmito Ranch Battlefield State Historic Site;
(29)  Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historic Site;
(30)  Presidio La Bahia State Historic Site;
(31) [(19)]  Sabine Pass Battleground State Historic
(32) [(20)]  Sam Bell Maxey House State Historic Site;
(33) [(21)]  Sam Rayburn House State Historic Site;
(34) [(22)]  San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site;
(35)  San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site;
(36)  Star of the Republic Museum State Historic Site;
(37) [(23)]  Starr Family Home State Historic Site;
(38)  Stephen F. Austin Memorial State Historic Site;
(39) [(24)]  Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic
(40) [(25)]  Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic
[(26)  the property known as the French Legation].
SECTION 6.  Section 442.101(c), Government Code, is amended
(c)  Except as authorized by Section 442.0046, the [The]
commission by rule shall adopt policies and procedures consistent
with Subchapter A, Chapter 2254, and other applicable state
procurement practices for soliciting and awarding contracts under
SECTION 7.  Section 442.113, Government Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (d) to
(a)  The Texas Historical Commission retail operations fund
is a special fund established outside the state treasury as a fund
to be held and administered by the comptroller as directed by the
commission to provide support for commission retail operations
under Section 442.112.  The fund consists of revenue from
commission retail operations and earned revenue operating receipts
and may not include appropriated money.
(a-1)  The commission may purchase goods for resale
necessary to support the commission's retail operations using
general revenue available to the commission for that purpose only
until sufficient money is available in the fund established under
this section to fully support retail operations.
(d)  The commission's retail and earned revenue operations
are considered auxiliary enterprises for purposes of Section
SECTION 8.  Chapter 442, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter D-1 to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER D-1. WASHINGTON-ON-THE-BRAZOS HISTORICAL FOUNDATION
Sec. 442.151.  DEFINITION.  In this subchapter, "foundation"
means the Washington-on-the-Brazos Historical Foundation.
Sec. 442.152.  PURPOSE OF FOUNDATION.  (a)  The foundation is
a nonprofit historical association organized for the purposes of
(1)  the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site;
(2)  the Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site;
(3)  the Barrington Living History Farm State Historic
(4)  the Star of the Republic Museum State Historic
(b)  The commission shall designate the foundation as the
entity responsible for providing operational support for the sites
described by Subsection (a) and engaging in related activities for,
and providing financial support to, those sites.
Sec. 442.153.  RESPONSIBILITIES OF FOUNDATION AND
COMMISSION.  The foundation and the commission shall enter into an
agreement that establishes the:
(1)  working relationship between the foundation and
the commission in connection with the activities conducted at the
sites described by Section 442.152(a);
(2)  best practices under which the foundation may
engage in business activities described by this subchapter,
including procurement guidelines for the use of state money;
(3)  relationship between the commission's employees
(4)  guidelines for identifying and defining the
administrative and financial support the commission may provide in
connection with the sites described by Section 442.152(a).
Sec. 442.154.  AGREEMENTS REGARDING CERTAIN HISTORIC SITES.
(a) The foundation and the commission may enter into an agreement
regarding a site described by Section 442.152(a) for the following
(1)  expanding, renovating, managing, maintaining,
operating, or providing financial support for the site;
(2)  maintaining, preserving, restoring, and
protecting property located on the site;
(3)  promoting and conducting archeological studies at
(4)  maintaining, repairing, renovating, restoring,
improving, expanding, or equipping improvements at the site,
including constructing new improvements;
(5)  designing and fabricating exhibits and
preserving, storing, and displaying artifacts, historical data,
and items of historical significance, including artifacts, data,
livestock, and items owned or held by the foundation, at the site;
(6)  creating interpretive and educational programs
(7)  acquiring additional artifacts, historical data,
and items of historical significance relevant to the Texas
Revolution and the period in which it occurred, and early Texas
settlement and culture related to the site; and
(8)  preserving, restoring, storing, and conserving
artifacts, historical data, and items of historical significance
(b)  Subject to the terms of an agreement under this section,
the foundation may exercise discretion regarding business
operations, exhibits, programming, collection management,
preservation, restoration, storage, and site development at the
site that is the subject of the agreement.
Sec. 442.155.  COLLECTION AND USE OF CERTAIN FEE AND REVENUE
RECEIPTS.  (a)  An agreement described by Section 442.154 may
authorize the foundation to, at the site that is the subject of the
(1)  charge and collect fees in connection with the
foundation's activities at the site, including fees for viewing
special exhibits or films, attending programs or events, and using
the facilities at the site; and
(2)  collect revenue from gift shop and concession
(b)  The foundation shall hold, invest, manage, use, and
apply money received from the fees and sales described by
Subsection (a) only for the benefit of the sites described by
Sec. 442.156.  COMMISSION ADVICE AND OVERSIGHT.  (a)  The
commission shall advise the foundation on the operation,
interpretation, and presentation of historical events,
preservation, archeology, education, nature, philanthropy, and
business development regarding a site described by Section
(b)  The commission may appoint two nonvoting members to the
Sec. 442.157.  FUNDRAISING.  (a) The foundation shall set
priorities for fundraising activities at the sites described by
(b)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), the commission may
adopt rules to establish naming opportunities as described by
Sec. 442.158.  OWNERSHIP AND ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY.  The
(1)  retains ownership of property held in the name of
(2)  may acquire items by gift, grant, or purchase
Sec. 442.159.  DISPOSITION OF FOUNDATION ASSETS ON
DISSOLUTION.  (a)  In the event of the foundation's dissolution, the
commission is the sole beneficiary of all items held in the
foundation's name that relate to the revolutionary history of a
site described by Section 442.152(a) and to early Texas settlement
and culture, except as otherwise provided by the foundation's
articles of incorporation or the terms of the gift or other transfer
of the items to the foundation.
(b)  An item for which the commission is not the sole
beneficiary must be clearly identified and described on an agreed
list prepared jointly by the commission and the foundation.
SECTION 9.  Subchapter K, Chapter 2166, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 2166.504 to read as follows:
Sec. 2166.504.  APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER TO CERTAIN
MARKERS.  This subchapter does not apply to a marker over which the
Texas Historical Commission has jurisdiction under Section
SECTION 10.  Section 442.0055, Government Code, is repealed.
SECTION 11.  Section 442.0046, Government Code, as added by
this Act, applies only to a contract for which bids are first
solicited on or after the effective date of this Act.  A contract
for which bids are first solicited before the effective date of this
Act is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the
effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for
SECTION 12.  On the effective date of this Act, the Texas
Historical Commission replaces the Texas Facilities Commission as
the state agency responsible for the preservation, maintenance, and
repair of the markers described by Section 442.034, Government
SECTION 13.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.