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Senate committee clears multiple local designation resolutions, including Combs as 'bee capital' and Pineland as 'sawmill capital'
Summary
The Senate Committee on Administration advanced several House concurrent resolutions recognizing local history and industry — including HCR 111 designating Combs the bee capital and a committee substitute for HCR 84 naming Pineland the sawmill capital — and recommended the measures for the May 28, 2025 local and uncontested calendar.
The Senate Committee on Administration voted to report several House concurrent resolutions favorably and recommended each for the local and uncontested calendar for May 28, 2025. The measures recognize local history, cultural traditions and an individual service member.
Senator Hinojosa explained HCR 111, saying, "This resolution designates Combs, Texas as the official bee capital of Texas. It recognizes the growing role in beekeeping, honey production, and pollinator conservation." The committee recorded no public testimony on HCR 111 and voted 5–0 to report the resolution favorably and place it on the local and uncontested calendar.
Senator Nichols explained HCR 81, a measure that the sponsor described as recognizing a town along the El Camino Real de los Tejas travel route as a gateway community. The committee also reported HCR 81 favorably with no public testimony.
A committee substitute was adopted for HCR 84. Senator Nichols told the committee the substitute designates the city of Pineland as the official sawmill capital of Texas, recounted the town's sawmill history and said, "Following a $120,000,000 expansion completed in 2023, Pineland is home to the largest sawmill in the Southern United States." The substitute was adopted without objection and the measure was reported favorably.
Senator Hughes introduced HCR 83, which recognizes ribbon cane syrup production in Rusk County and notes a long-running local festival. Hughes said the festival draws about "30,000 annual visitors" and commended the resolution. The committee reported HCR 83 favorably by roll call (6–0) and recommended it for the May 28 local and uncontested calendar.
The committee also advanced HCR 46, which the sponsor described as a resolution to honor U.S. Navy SEAL Nathan Gage Ingram. The sponsor said Ingram went missing during a mission off the coast of Somalia on Jan. 12, 2024, and the resolution would set aside Jan. 12 to honor his memory. The committee reported HCR 46 favorably (6–0) and recommended it for the May 28 calendar. No public testimony was recorded on these measures.
All resolutions were reported out of committee without public testimony and with roll-call votes as noted in the committee record. Several measures were certified for the May 28, 2025 local and uncontested calendar per the committee's recommendation.
