Texas Senate Bill SB2453

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 3/13/25

Caption

Relating to the memorial designation of certain portions of an international border wall and the use of grants related to homeland security for those purposes.

Impact

This legislation establishes a clear guideline for naming sections of the border wall, allowing memorials to be designated only for deceased individuals who were victims of crimes committed by aliens. The bill also mandates that memorial markers cannot be erected unless funded through donations or grants, emphasizing the need for external financing in public commemorative projects. This introduces a potential financial hurdle for the implementation of memorials, as state resources cannot be directly utilized for these markers.

Summary

SB2453 relates to the memorial designation of certain sections of an international border wall and includes provisions for utilizing grants associated with homeland security for these purposes. The bill amends existing laws to allocate both federal and state funding to the Texas Facilities Commission, enabling them to design, construct, and maintain memorial markers related to the border wall. The defined scope applies specifically to state-constructed walls on land owned by the state at the international border with Mexico.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding SB2453 may arise regarding the limitations placed on naming the border wall, particularly the requirement that names can only reflect victims of crimes by aliens. This could lead to debates over the implications of such restrictions and their contextual relevance to community sentiment. Additionally, the reliance on external funding for memorial markers might spark discussions on the responsibility of the state versus private contributions in commemorating significant state structures.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Government Code

• Chapter 421. Homeland Security
  • Section: 072

• Chapter 2152. Texas Facilities Commission
  • Section: New Section