Texas Military Facilities Commission

See the online finding aid for the agency history.

The Texas National Guard Armory Board was originally created in 1935 (Senate Bill 501, 44th Legislature, Regular Session) to oversee the expenditure of six million dollars allocated to Texas by a congressional appropriation to the War Department for the purpose of building National Guard armories. The Board was initially granted only the authority to cooperate with federal authorities in building facilities in Texas; it functioned as a separate entity in a close relationship with the Texas Adjutant General. In 1937 (Senate Bill 402, 45th Legislature, Regular Session), the Board's duties were expanded to include the right to sue and be sued, to contract, to acquire property, to borrow money, and to issue bonds, enabling the Board to obtain further grants and loans from the federal government. The Board thus had responsibility for the acquisition, construction, rental, control, maintenance, and operation of all armory facilities for the Texas National Guard. After World War II, the agency was authorized to handle surplus property being released to the states by the federal government (House Bill 448, 51st Legislature, Regular Session, 1949). A need for a specific separation from the Adjutant General prompted a complete revision of all the provisions concerning the Texas National Guard Armory Board in 1967 (House Bill 406, 60th Legislature, Regular Session). In 1979, the Board was granted the additional authority to issue refunding bonds to finance its expenses (Senate Bill 878, 66th Legislature, Regular Session). The agency was authorized to borrow money and to issue and sell bonds, debentures, and other evidences of indebtedness in support of its facilities program. The Board's objectives were to support the state Adjutant General's goals and missions; to construct new armory facilities to accommodate new units of the Texas National Guard; to initiate a comprehensive perpetual maintenance and repair program; to renovate armories; and to reduce the backlog of minor construction projects. In 1972, the board maintained and operated armories in 140 locations but by 1996, due to cost cutting measures, the number was reduced to 106.

In 1997, the name of the agency was changed to the Texas Military Facilities Commission (Senate Bill 352, 75th Legislature, Regular Session) and it was made the exclusive authority for the construction, repair, and maintenance of National Guard armories, facilities, and improvements owned by the state that are located on commission property. The Commission was a public authority and a body politic and corporate and had all powers necessary for the acquisition, construction, rental, control, maintenance, operation, and disposition of Texas National Guard or Texas State Guard facilities and real property, including all property and equipment necessary or useful in connection with the facilities. The Commission retained the authorization to borrow money and to issue and sell bonds, debentures, and other evidences of indebtedness in support of its facilities program. The agency operated under the legal authority of the Texas Government Code, Title 3, Subtitle C, Chapter 435. The Texas Military Facilities Commission was abolished effective September 1, 2007 and its functions were transferred to the Texas Adjutant General's Department (Senate Bill 1724, 80th Legislature, Regular Session).

The policy-making body of the Texas National Guard Armory Board was a six-member board composed of the two senior officers of the Texas Army National Guard, the senior officer of the Air National Guard, and three representatives of the general public appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate for overlapping six-year terms. No member could simultaneously hold any other office or position of honor, trust, or profit under the state or federal service. These were non-salaried positions, and members elected the chair. An Executive Director for the agency was appointed by the board. Following the changes mandated by the 75th Legislature, the composition of the Texas Military Facilities Commission was altered to include one senior officer of the Texas National Guard (appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate from a list submitted by the adjutant general), who must be actively serving in the Texas National Guard at the time of appointment and five members of the general public (appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate), none of whom may actively serve in the Texas National Guard while serving as members of the commission, and two of whom must have experience in architecture, civil engineering, or construction management. Other conditions of service remained similar to those of the Texas National Guard Armory Board. In accordance with Senate Bill 287 (78th Legislature, Regular Session) which required that agencies with an even number of board members alter to an odd number of members to comply with the changes made to Section 30a, Article XVI of the Texas Constitution, the Commission became a seven-member board in 2003 (the additional seat was not filled until 2004).