Bill Text: TX SR35 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Recognizing February 3-5, 2025, as Midland-Odessa Days at the State Capitol.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2025-02-05 - Reported enrolled [SR35 Detail]

Download: Texas-2025-SR35-Introduced.html

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89R12302 BK-D
By: Sparks S.R. No. 35

R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Proud residents of Midland and Odessa are gathering
in Austin on February 3-5, 2025, to celebrate Midland-Odessa Days
at the State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, Set only 20 miles apart in the ranching and oil
country of West Texas, these vibrant Texas cities got their start as
stops on the Texas and Pacific Railway in the 1880s; by 1890,
Midland was one of the most important centers for shipping cattle in
Texas; and
WHEREAS, Odessa began its rapid growth with the discovery of
oil in the Permian Basin in the 1920s, and by 1929, Midland was home
to 36 oil companies; today, Midland continues to be the financial
and administrative capital of the Permian Basin, while Odessa
remains the center for the region's oil processing and
distribution; and
WHEREAS, Midland and Odessa are the primary cities located in
the Permian Basin, which is one of the largest oil producing regions
in the world and accounts for 40 percent of production in the United
States; and
WHEREAS, The Ellen Noël Art Museum in Odessa features
world-class exhibits year-round, and the Haley Memorial Library &
History Center in Midland houses the first bell to hang in the Alamo
and vast resources of oral and written archives about the cowboy and
the American Southwest; situated between Midland and Odessa is the
Wagner Noël Performing Arts Center, a state-of-the-art facility
boasting a total of 2,000 seats between its theater and recital
hall; visitors and residents alike also enjoy the Stonehenge
replica on The University of Texas Permian Basin campus in Odessa,
as well as live productions at the replica of Shakespeare's Globe
Theatre at Odessa College; the Midland Festival Ballet, the West
Texas Symphony, and the award-winning Midland Community Theatre
offer live performances that inspire and entertain; and
WHEREAS, The 99-acre I-20 Wildlife Preserve and Jenna Welch
Nature Study Center and the 49-acre Sibley Nature Center celebrate
the nature and history of the Permian Basin while showcasing the
beauty and wildlife of the region; Odessa is host to the Spire, a
1950s mid-century architecture sign that was refurbished in 2019
and is the tallest lighted public art structure in Texas; and
WHEREAS, The White-Pool House is the first residential home
in Odessa and proudly displays items from both the White and Pool
families; also located in Odessa and enjoyed by more than 10,000
visitors every year is the nation's second-largest meteor crater
and its adjoining museum; and
WHEREAS, Midland's Museum of the Southwest offers displays of
the art and archaeology of the American Southwest, as well as the
winning Kentucky Derby history of one of Midland's prominent
families; the interactive exhibits in the Permian Basin Petroleum
Museum present the geology and history of oil while helping inspire
entrepreneurs of the future; and
WHEREAS, Odessa features the Chris Kyle Memorial Plaza, which
honors the former Navy SEAL who was born in Odessa, and which pays
tribute to the past, current, and future veterans who have
selflessly served our country; the Midland Army Air Field Museum
preserves the history of the largest bombardier training school
during World War II and also highlights the contributions that West
Texans made to the war effort; and
WHEREAS, For more than a century, the cities of Midland and
Odessa have been at the economic and cultural hub of West Texas, and
their citizens continue to celebrate their rich history as they
work hard to build a prosperous future; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the 89th Texas Legislature
hereby recognize February 3-5, 2025, as Midland-Odessa Days at the
State Capitol and extend a warm welcome to the visiting delegation.