Texas House Bill HCR57

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Caption

Clarifying that the 1972 ratification by the 62nd Texas Legislature, 2nd Called Session, of the proposed 1972 Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution of the United States was only valid through March 22, 1979.

Impact

By formally declaring that the ratification has lapsed, HCR57 seeks to influence not only state law but also the interpretation of federal constitutional law surrounding the ERA. The resolution highlights Texas's desire to maintain that, while supporting the principle of gender equality, it does not currently endorse the long-expired ERA. The resolution specifically aims to counter recent attempts to claim that the 1972 ERA should be considered valid despite the lapse in ratification and addresses concerns about the misrepresentation of Texas's historical actions regarding the ERA.

Summary

HCR57 is a concurrent resolution that addresses the status of the 1972 Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) ratification by the Texas Legislature. This bill asserts that the ratification, which occurred on March 30, 1972, officially lapsed at 11:59 p.m. on March 22, 1979, due to the failure of the ERA to meet its required deadlines for ratification by a sufficient number of state legislatures. The resolution serves as a clarification from current Texas lawmakers regarding the validity of the previous ratification and aims to prevent any misinterpretation of Texas' position on the ERA as ongoing.

Conclusion

Overall, HCR57 acts as a legislative tool to affirm Texas's stance on an amendment that has been at the center of national debate for decades. It reinforces the belief that legislative actions and amendments to the Constitution require adherence to formal processes and deadlines, and emphasizes the role of state legislatures in constitutional amendments.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HCR57 stem from differing interpretations of the ERA's status. Proponents argue that the resolution clarifies Texas's historical ratification and disallows any attempts to retroactively reinstate the ERA. In contrast, opponents may view this as a politically charged move that undermines the ongoing discussions for gender equality at both state and federal levels. The resolution raises questions on how the actions of the Texas Legislature might affect broader movements towards recognizing equal rights constitutionally, especially as other states have attempted to ratify the ERA post-deadline.