SB 1350 establishes the Texas Bicentennial Commission to plan and coordinate activities celebrating the 200th anniversary of Texas's independence. The commission will function as a state-level coordinating body to organize commemorative events, projects, and educational initiatives that reflect the cultural, historical, and civic significance of Texas's founding. By centralizing these efforts, the bill aims to ensure that bicentennial celebrations are inclusive, meaningful, and representative of the state’s diverse communities.
The commission will be composed of 23 members. This includes nine public members appointed by the governor with Senate confirmation, as well as six legislators—three appointed by the lieutenant governor and three by the speaker of the House. Eight additional members serve in an ex-officio capacity, representing various state agencies and cultural institutions, such as the Texas Historical Commission, Texas Film Commission, Texas Commission on the Arts, and the Institute of Texan Cultures. Public appointees are required to reflect the geographic and demographic diversity of Texas.
Members will serve staggered six-year terms, and the commission’s duties will be supplemental to the existing responsibilities of ex-officio members. The bill provides procedural guidance on appointments, term expirations, and vacancies. Though not explicitly addressed in the initial sections, the commission is expected to develop programs and partnerships to engage the public, promote historical literacy, and support cultural tourism, contributing both to civic education and economic activity across the state.
By creating a formal structure to guide bicentennial planning, SB 1350 seeks to ensure that this milestone anniversary is commemorated with statewide coordination and public engagement while respecting the state’s cultural legacy.
The Committee Substitute for SB 1350 introduces several key changes from the originally filed version of the bill, reflecting a strategic shift toward a more streamlined and flexible approach to organizing Texas's bicentennial celebrations. Most notably, the committee substitute removes the specific reference to "2036" from the name of the commission. While the original bill established the "Texas 2036 Bicentennial Commission," the substitute simplifies this to the "Texas Bicentennial Commission," offering a more general and potentially more enduring title. This change broadens the symbolic scope and avoids tying the commission strictly to a single year or event cycle.
Substantively, the substitute bill omits several operational and administrative provisions included in the original. The original bill provided detailed statutory authority for the commission to develop bicentennial standards, create a logo, sanction merchandise, employ staff (including an executive director), solicit donations, and submit a final report on the economic impact of bicentennial activities. These provisions outlined a robust operational framework and reflected an intent for the commission to serve as a centralized, resourceful, and semi-autonomous planning body. In contrast, the substitute removes these elements, signaling a preference for limiting the scope of government involvement and potentially deferring these responsibilities to rulemaking or existing state agencies.
Additionally, the substitute does not include the original's sunset clause or reporting requirement, which would have ensured the commission expired in 2037 after submitting a legislative report. Its omission suggests either an open-ended commission lifespan or a future legislative opportunity to define that endpoint. The removal of language on staffing, reimbursement, and financial operations further underscores the substitute’s more minimalist, limited-government posture. Overall, these revisions reflect a legislative intent to maintain commemorative efforts while reducing administrative complexity and state spending.
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Sen. Bryan Hughes
