As renovation work at the Alamo presses onward, legislative action may see control of the historic landmark trade hands. The Texas Legislature approved two bills last week that would shift the site’s management and endorse new public exhibits. Gov. Greg Abbott is left with the final word on turning the bills into law.
Senate Bill 3059 (SB 3059) would move the Alamo’s management from the General Land Office and give it to a new Alamo Commission. The commission is headed by the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the House and an appointed member from both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The Alamo Commission will assume all responsibilities needed to protect the Alamo, including preservation, maintenance and restoration of the complex and its contents. Its duties also extend to protecting the site’s historical architectural integrity on all grounds. The commission may work with a qualifying nonprofit organization to raise funds or provide services for managing the Alamo complex.
The Texas land commissioner has already begun negotiations with Mexico for a loan to display two artifacts at the site: an 1836 battle flag and the 1813 Texas Declaration of Independence. The flag is the only known one of its kind to have flown at the Alamo. SB 3059 authorizes the commission to continue working toward having these artifacts temporarily loaned or traded.
Going forward, the commission will prepare an annual budget and work plan for the complex and all on-site buildings, their contents and grounds. Authorization to collaborate with the Department of Public Safety to assign officers alongside the uniformed private security personnel – known as the Alamo Rangers – who have guarded the site for five decades.
The Alamo Trust – the nonprofit running the site since 2015 – is anticipated to continue working with the Alamo Commission. The change in leadership is the latest in the state’s efforts to support the Alamo complex. Currently, the site is undergoing a $550 million renovation, seeking to financially sustain the Alamo and increase visitation by 1.1 million people annually.
Once approved by the governor, SB 3059 will take effect Sept. 1, 2027.
The second bill related to the Alamo – House Bill 1397 – details the site owner’s responsibilities for the care, custody and display of three historical artifacts:
- The “Victory or Death letter.”
- The Texas Constitution.
- The Texas Declaration of Independence.
The Victory or Death letter was penned by Lieutenant Colonel William B. Travis on Feb. 24, 1836. The bill includes directions for the safety and preservation of these items and provides instructions to designate an appropriate place for the secure display of all three artifacts. The Act will take effect Sept. 1, 2025.
Photo by Eixo on en.wikipedia, Public domain, from Wikimedia Commons
