2023 Texas Statutes › Government Code › Title 4 - Executive Branch › Subtitle C - State Military Forces and Veterans › Chapter 437 - Texas Military › Subchapter H. Awards › Section 437.351. Texas Legislative Medal of Honor

Sec. 437.351.  TEXAS LEGISLATIVE MEDAL OF HONOR.  (a)  The Texas Legislative Medal of Honor shall be awarded to a member of the state or federal military forces designated by concurrent resolution of the legislature who voluntarily performs a deed of personal bravery or self-sacrifice involving risk of life that is so conspicuous as to clearly distinguish the service member for gallantry and intrepidity above the service member's comrades.  Awarding of the medal shall be considered on the standard of extraordinary merit.  The medal may be awarded only on incontestable proof of performance of the deed.  To be eligible for the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor, a service member must:
(1)  have been born in this state;
(2)  reside in this state or have been a resident of this state on the service member's death; or
(3)  have been a resident of this state when the service member entered military service.
(b)  A service member is not ineligible for the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor because the service member has received any other medal or award for military service, including a medal or award made by the United States.
(c)  To receive the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor, a service member must be nominated during a regular session of the legislature by majority vote of all the members of a nominating committee consisting of:
(1)  the adjutant general or the adjutant general's designated representative;
(2)  the lieutenant governor or the lieutenant governor's designated representative;
(3)  the speaker of the house of representatives or the speaker's designated representative; and
(4)  the chair of the standing committee of each house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over military and veterans affairs.
(d)  The legislature by concurrent resolution may direct the governor to award the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to a service member nominated by the nominating committee.  The committee chairs serving on the nominating committee shall jointly prepare a concurrent resolution directing the governor to award the medal to a service member nominated.  The legislature may direct the medal to be awarded only during a regular session and may not, during a regular session, direct the medal to be awarded to more than:
(1)  one service member for service in the state or federal military forces during the period beginning after 1835 but before 1956;
(2)  one service member for service in the state or federal military forces during the period beginning after January 1, 1956, but before September 11, 2001; and
(3)  one service member for service in the state or federal military forces on or after September 11, 2001.
(e)  Notwithstanding Subsections (a) and (c), the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor shall be awarded to a resident of this state who receives the Congressional Medal of Honor.  A Texas Legislative Medal of Honor awarded under this subsection is not included for purposes of determining the number of medals that may be awarded under Subsection (d).
Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 147, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.  Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1092, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1020, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 2003.
Amended by:
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 311 (H.B. 1589), Sec. 1, eff. June 14, 2013.
Transferred, redesignated and amended from Government Code, Subchapter J, Chapter 431 by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1217 (S.B. 1536), Sec. 1.02, eff. September 1, 2013.
Amended by:
Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 764 (H.B. 4421), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2023.