| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
Relating to the removal, relocation, alteration, or construction of
certain monuments or memorials located on public property; authorizing a civil penalty.
Any increase to the General Revenue Fund from the application of civil penalties, as provided by the bill, cannot be estimated at this time.
SB 1663 authorizes the Texas Preservation Trust Fund Account to be used for the acquisition, survey, restoration, or preservation, or for planning and education activities leading to the preservation, of historic property in the state that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places or designated as a State Archaeological Landmark or Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, or that the Texas Historical Commission (THC) determines is eligible for such listing or designation. The fund may also be used for construction of certain monuments or memorials.
This bill would also provide that a monument or memorial that has been located on state property for at least 25 years may be removed, relocated, or altered only by approval of a concurrent resolution authorizing such action by a two-thirds vote of the members of each house of the legislature. If the monument or memorial has been located on state property for less than 25 years, such action would require formal action of the governing body of or the single state officer who governs the state agency that erected the monument or memorial.
Finally, this bill would authorize a resident of the state to file a complaint with the attorney general if the resident asserts facts supporting an allegation that an entity has violated these bill provisions. Other provisions regarding rules for removing, relocating, or altering a monument or memorial are provided for county and municipality property.
Texas Action is neutral on SB 1663 because it does not affect our liberty principles.