HB 4347 allows children and dependents of qualifying military personnel or veterans to use unused tuition exemption credits from their parent or guardian. It permits active-duty service members (or veterans who would qualify but for the honorable discharge requirement) to waive unused exemption hours and transfer them to their children. After a qualifying military member's death, the exemption can be assigned to children through a spouse or legal guardian if the child doesn't otherwise qualify. The change applies to tuition and fees charged for the 2025 fall semester and later.
SB 2958 would reclassify certain military separations as honorable discharges under Texas state law for veterans who were discharged solely due to their sexual orientation. It directly affects individuals whose military discharge records (specifically DD Form 214) show separation codes like BLC, BRA, or GRC - codes tied to "don't ask, don't tell" era discharges. The bill establishes that if a veteran’s discharge was based on sexual orientation and would have otherwise qualified for a more favorable discharge rating, Texas will recognize them as honorably discharged veterans. This change would grant these veterans access to state benefits and privileges available to honorably discharged veterans under Texas law. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs.
HB 5619 would extend the Hazlewood Exemption Act - which currently provides property tax exemptions for eligible veterans - to include active-duty military members. This change would directly affect active-duty service members in Texas who own property and are currently excluded from the exemption. The bill would amend the existing law to add active-duty personnel to the list of qualifying individuals, allowing them to receive the same property tax relief available to veterans. The bill was referred to the Higher Education committee on April 7, 2025.
HB 2537 sets new standards for organizations providing free claims assistance to Texas veterans at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. It requires law firms or 501(c)(3) nonprofits to meet specific qualifications, including 10+ years of experience representing veterans before the VA, at least 750 cases at the appeals court, and a Texas physical office. The bill ensures veterans facing denied claims at the Board of Veterans' Appeals can access free legal representation from vetted providers. It directly affects veterans navigating complex appeals and the qualified legal organizations serving them. The policy change focuses on improving access to experienced, authorized assistance without altering veterans' benefits.
HB 2210 updates Texas law to explicitly include the United States Space Force in military and veteran definitions across multiple statutes. It adds "Space Force" to Education Code provisions granting in-state tuition benefits for active-duty military members and their families, revises the definition of "veteran" to include Space Force service, and incorporates the Space Force into Election Code and Government Code references to "armed forces" and "agency of the United States armed forces." This directly affects current and former Space Force members, their spouses, and children who may now qualify for Texas in-state tuition and veteran benefits. The bill makes no new policy changes but ensures existing benefits apply to Space Force personnel as the military branch has been established.
SB 3060 increases property tax exemptions for disabled veterans in Texas based on their U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability rating. It sets new exemption tiers: $30,000 for veterans with a 10-29% rating, $40,000 for 30-49%, $50,000 for 50-69%, and $100,000 for 70% or higher. The bill applies to property taxes for tax years starting January 1, 2026, but only if voters approve a related constitutional amendment in 2025. This directly affects Texas disabled veterans who own property and meet the specified disability rating thresholds.
HB 1597 requires county jailers in Texas to complete specialized training on interacting with veterans within the criminal justice system. The bill amends licensing rules to mandate that all jailers, including those already licensed, must finish this training program by August 31, 2027. The training program, developed jointly with the Texas Veterans Commission, will be integrated into existing jailer preparatory training requirements. This policy directly affects county jailers statewide, ensuring they receive targeted education to better serve veteran individuals in custody. The bill takes effect September 1, 2025.
HB 1557 requires toll project entities in Texas to offer free or discounted tolls for vehicles registered under specific veteran vehicle codes (Section 504.202 or 504.315(f)/(g)) in the Texas Transportation Code. It directly affects veterans who drive vehicles with these designated registrations. The bill mandates that toll entities establish such discount programs and limits participants to two transponders, with a hardship exception for a third. The policy change takes effect September 1, 2025.
HB 5014 creates a new "SPECIAL FORCES VETERAN" designation for handgun license holders in Texas. It requires applicants to list qualifying military service (12+ consecutive months in specific Army Special Forces roles like 18A detachment commander or 18B weapons sergeant) and provide proof of eligibility. The bill amends license forms to include this designation alongside existing categories like "VETERAN." It directly affects Texas veterans who served in designated Special Forces positions at E5-E9, W1-W5, or O1-O10 pay grades.
HB 5639 requires the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) to establish a housing program for inmates who are veterans with at least 180 days of active-duty service and an honorable discharge. The program must dedicate specific cellblocks or dormitories for eligible veterans, verify their status during intake, and allow them to opt into the dedicated housing. TDCJ may not place veterans in these areas if safety risks exist, and non-veteran inmates may use the space if needed. The program must be implemented by September 1, 2025.
