Star of Texas Awards

The Star of Texas Awards honor peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical first responders who are seriously injured or killed in the line of duty.

In 2003, House Bill 1937 created the Star of Texas Awards to honor and commemorate selected first responders who made profound commitments while performing their duties as peace officers, firefighters and emergency medical first responders. HB 1937 also designated September 11th of every year as Texas First Responders Day.

In 2005, amendments to the Star of Texas Awards statute (Texas Government Code, Chapter 3106) expanded awards to include all peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical first responders who were seriously injured or killed in the line of duty on or after September 1, 2003.

In 2007, HB 1164 was signed into law amending the Star of Texas Awards statute to include awards for federal law enforcement officers or special agents seriously injured or killed while performing duties in Texas while assisting a state or local law enforcement agency.

In 2013, amendments to the Star of Texas Awards statute (Texas Government Code, Chapter 3106) expanded awards to include all citizens who were seriously injured or killed while assisting Texas first responders on or after September 1, 2003.

Three advisory committees (one for each category of first responder) that are appointed by the Governor to review award nominations each year to ensure that they meet statutory criteria. View a complete list of past honorees.

Nomination for Star of Texas Awards

The Star of Texas Awards honor all Texas peace officers and federal law enforcement officers or special agents acting in assistance to state or local law enforcement, firefighters, and emergency medical first responders who were seriously injured or killed in the line of duty on or after September 1, 2003.

To be eligible for consideration for this year's awards, the critical incident must have occurred between September 1, 2003 and June 15, 2019, and the individual must not have previously received a Star of Texas Award.

Nominations for this year's awards may be submitted no later than June 15, 2019. The awards ceremony will be held in September 2019. To nominate an individual for a Star of Texas Award, please select either "Injured" or "Deceased" below, then click the "Continue" button.