Bill Text: TX SCR29 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Expressing commitment to eliminating racially offensive place names and urging the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to approve requests to change racially offensive names of geographic features.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-16 - Signed by the Governor [SCR29 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SCR29-Enrolled.html
S.C.R. No. 29 |
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WHEREAS, Members of the Texas Geographic Names Committee and | ||
the U.S. Board on Geographic Names have issued a report which shows | ||
that there are at least 28 geographic features in Texas with | ||
racially offensive names; and | ||
WHEREAS, In 1991, the Texas Legislature passed H.B. 1756, | ||
relating to the elimination of certain racially offensive names of | ||
geographic features; the act requires the renaming of any | ||
geographic feature with a name containing the word "Negro," yet in | ||
the 30 years since the law was passed, 17 of the 19 place names | ||
detailed in the act remain unchanged; and | ||
WHEREAS, Changes to place names require the approval of the | ||
U.S. Board on Geographic Names, which in 1998 rejected the names | ||
proposed by H.B. 1756; however, the names were submitted for | ||
reconsideration at a recent meeting of the USBGN and will be | ||
considered for validation and acceptance no later than June 2021; | ||
and | ||
WHEREAS, In addition to those currently under | ||
reconsideration, the USBGN has identified 11 other place names in | ||
Texas containing the slur, in contravention of Section 3 of H.B. | ||
1756; there are currently no proposals to change these names, and | ||
the board's protocol requires a formal proposal be submitted in | ||
order to consider any changes; the board encourages Texas to seek | ||
proponents to submit a proposal for each of these names; and | ||
WHEREAS, The perpetuation of racially offensive language is a | ||
stain on the Lone Star State, and it is vital that the names of these | ||
geographic features be changed in order to reflect and honor the | ||
diversity of the population; now, therefore, be it | ||
RESOLVED, That the 87th Legislature of the State of Texas | ||
hereby urge the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to approve requests | ||
to change racially offensive place names in accordance with Texas | ||
H.B. 1756. | ||
______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 29 was adopted by the Senate | ||
on April 28, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
I hereby certify that S.C.R. No. 29 was adopted by the House | ||
on May 24, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 146, Nays 0. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||
Approved: | ||
______________________________ | ||
Date | ||
______________________________ | ||
Governor |