Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas House Bill HR275 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	89R13711 BK-D
2	2	By: Jones of Harris H.R. No. 275
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7	7	R E S O L U T I O N
8	8	WHEREAS, The Honorable Zinetta Arceneaux Burney of Houston
9	9	passed away on September 22, 2024, at the age of 83, leaving her
10	10	loved ones to reflect on her remarkable life and achievements; and
11	11	WHEREAS, A Houston native, the former Zinetta Arceneaux was
12	12	born on February 24, 1941, to John and Thelma Arceneaux; although
13	13	she left high school to raise her daughter, Sharon Maria Burney, she
14	14	later earned her GED and completed training to begin her career as a
15	15	licensed vocational nurse; in 1968, she received a bachelor's
16	16	degree in mathematics from Texas Southern University, and she went
17	17	on to graduate from TSU's Thurgood Marshall School of Law on her way
18	18	to becoming an attorney; and
19	19	WHEREAS, Alongside four other women, Ms. Burney founded the
20	20	first African American female-led law practice in the country,
21	21	known as the "Sisters in Law," which served the Acres Homes
22	22	community; she took on cases even when her clients were unable to
23	23	pay, and her generosity extended to helping others in the
24	24	neighborhood with groceries and other necessities; she later became
25	25	the senior partner of the law firm of Burney & Foreman, and in 2004,
26	26	she was elected presiding judge of Harris County Justice of the
27	27	Peace Court, Precinct 7, Place 2; she served in that capacity for a
28	28	decade and a half until she had the satisfaction of seeing her
29	29	daughter succeed her in her long-held position in 2019; and
30	30	WHEREAS, Active in her professional community, Judge Burney
31	31	belonged to the Houston Lawyers Association, the Gulf Coast Black
32	32	Women Lawyers Association, the State Bar of Texas, and the Houston
33	33	and National Bar Associations, among others; in addition, she was
34	34	appointed by Governor Ann Richards to the University of Houston
35	35	System Board of Regents; she benefited her fellow residents through
36	36	her work as a board member for the Third Ward Redevelopment Council
37	37	and the Greater Houston Women's Foundation, as chair of the board of
38	38	commissions for the Houston Housing Authority, and as a member of
39	39	such local organizations as the Houston Area Urban League;
40	40	throughout her life, she was recognized for her accomplishments by
41	41	the City of Houston, the NAACP, the United Negro College Fund, the
42	42	Thurgood Marshall School of Law, and numerous other groups; and
43	43	WHEREAS, Zinetta Burney was a pioneering legal professional
44	44	and a true pillar of her community, and although she will be greatly
45	45	missed, she leaves behind a legacy that will long be treasured by
46	46	all who held her dear; now, therefore, be it
47	47	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas
48	48	Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of the Honorable Zinetta
49	49	Arceneaux Burney and extend deepest sympathy to her family and
50	50	friends; and, be it further
51	51	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
52	52	prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of
53	53	Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Zinetta
54	54	Burney.