Texas Senate Bill SB226

Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Caption

Relating to maintaining certain monuments and memorials and the names of certain public institutions; providing civil penalties.

Impact

The bill also imposes a mechanism for the enforcement of these regulations, allowing the Texas Attorney General to seek civil penalties against any entity that violates the stipulations regarding name changes. Specifically, if a school district or campus violates the requirement of voter approval for name changes, it faces a civil penalty of $1,000 for each violation, with the potential for repeated penalties for ongoing infractions. This aligns with a growing trend to protect long-standing historical designations in the state and limit arbitrary changes.

Summary

SB226, titled the Texas Historical Protection Act, establishes regulations concerning the maintenance and renaming of certain monuments, memorials, and public institutions. This legislation specifies that any school district or educational campus name change, if the name has been in operation for at least 20 years, can only occur through a majority vote by the district's voters in a dedicated election. Additionally, the bill prohibits the use of public funds for these name changes, emphasizing a community-based approach in deciding such matters.

Contention

A significant aspect of SB226 is its implications for regional governance and local control. While the supporters of the bill argue it serves to maintain historical integrity and community values, there are concerns regarding the limitations it imposes on local officials' discretion over monument and institution naming. Some view the bill as an attempt to politicize local decisions, potentially hindering communities from addressing changing social values surrounding certain monuments or memorials.

Further_points

The law will also apply to state properties, where similar restrictions over the removal, alteration, or relocation of monuments with at least 20 years of established significance will be in place unless action is approved by a two-thirds legislative vote. This could provoke debate regarding the interpretation of historical significance and the types of memorials that receive legal protection under this act.