H.B. No. 3227 amends the Government Code to establish regulations regarding the removal, relocation, alteration, or construction of monuments and memorials on public property in Texas. The bill specifies that monuments or memorials that have been in place for at least 25 years can only be altered or removed with a two-thirds vote from both houses of the legislature. For those less than 25 years old, changes can be made by the governing body of the state agency that erected them. Additionally, the bill introduces a new section that prohibits any alterations to the Alamo Cenotaph, ensuring it remains in its original location.

Furthermore, the bill creates a new chapter in the Local Government Code that outlines similar procedures for municipal and county monuments and memorials. It establishes a process for residents to file complaints with the attorney general if they believe a municipality or county has violated the regulations regarding these monuments. If a violation is confirmed, the attorney general can seek legal remedies, and municipalities found in violation may face civil penalties ranging from $1,000 to $25,500, depending on the number of violations. The bill also waives sovereign immunity for the state and local governments concerning these penalties.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 442.015, Government Code 2166.5011, Subtitle C, Title , Local Government Code 61.003 (Government Code 2166, Government Code 442, Subtitle C, Title , Local Government Code 61)
House Committee Report: Government Code 442.015, Government Code 2166.5011 (Government Code 2166, Government Code 442, Subtitle C, Title , Local Government Code 61)