Bill > SB2918

This bill establishes the Texas Freedman's Bureau, a state agency dedicated to assisting residents in tracing their ancestry to freed slaves during the period of 1861 to 1868. The bureau will be composed of five commissioners appointed by the governor, serving two-year terms without compensation but with reimbursed expenses. Its primary responsibilities include creating and maintaining a database to help residents establish ancestral ties with freedmen, issuing identification cards to those who can prove their lineage, and providing assistance in obtaining reparations. The bureau will have offices in Bexar, Dallas, Harris, and Travis Counties and will be administratively attached to the Health and Human Services Commission. It is tasked with developing a strategic plan in collaboration with other state agencies to implement its mission, which includes promoting the use of the term "freedmen" in demographic data collection. The bureau is subject to the Texas Sunset Act and will be automatically abolished on September 1, 2035, unless continued by legislative action. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, with the governor expected to appoint commissioners as soon as possible after the effective date.

Health and Social Services

https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=SB2918