Prepared by the Texas Veterans Commission
House Bill 120 House Author: Larson/Guillen
Effective: 9/1/2013 Senate Sponsor: Campbell
Impact: C
The bill amends the Transportation Code to require the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal and amends Transportation Code, Section 504.3015, to require one set of the new specialty license plate to be issued without payment of the vehicle registration fee.
House Bill 150 House Author: Larson et al.
Effective: 6/14/2013 Senate Sponsor: Van de Putte
Impact: C
The bill requires the display of flags at half-staff at the Capitol building to honor service members killed in action.
House Bill 194 House Author: Farias et al.
Effective: 9/1/2013 Senate Sponsor: Hinojosa
Impact: B
The bill amends Chapter 2161 of the Government Code to add disabled veterans who have suffered at least a 20 percent service-connected disability to the definition of an “economically disadvantaged person” for the purpose of identifying a historically underutilized business (HUB). The bill would also require the categorization of HUBs included in a report under Subchapter C of Chapter 2161 to include businesses owned or owned, operated and controlled by disabled veterans.
House Bill 396 House Author: S. Thompson
Effective: 9/1/2013 Senate Sponsor: Huffman
Impact: C
The bill amends the Election Code to allow a person to apply for a ballot with a single federal postcard application for one or more elections in which the person is eligible to vote. The bill would require the early voting clerk who does not conduct early voting to forward a copy of the application in a form prescribed by the Secretary of State (SOS) to each early voting clerk who conducts early voting in general or special elections.
House Bill 402 House Author: S. Davis
Effective: 9/1/2013 Senate Sponsor: Birdwell
Impact: C
The bill creates a medal for certain members of the state military forces who served during the Cold War.
House Bill 485 House Author: S. Davis, et al.
Effective: 9/1/2013 Senate Sponsor: Whitmire
Impact: C
The bill reduces the fees paid by certain peace officers, correctional officers, members of the state military forces, and veterans of the armed forces for a license to carry a concealed handgun and to the issuance of such a license to certain peace officers and members of the state military forces.
House Bill 489 House Author: Menendez
Effective: 6/14/2013 Senate Sponsor: Uresti
Impact: C
The bill relates to rights and responsibilities of persons with disabilities, including with respect to the use of service animals that provide assistance to those persons. It includes seizure disorder and PTSD as reasons for a service animal.
House Bill 525 House Author: Aycock, et al.
Effective: 5/25/2013 Senate Sponsor: Rodriguez
Impact: C
The bill requires the collection of data each year from school districts and open enrollment charter schools through the Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) relating to the enrollment of military-connected students. The data relating to the enrollment of military-connected students under this section
House Bill 633 House Author: Farias, et al.
Effective: 9/1/2013 Senate Sponsor: Davis
Impact: A
The bill allows persons applying for an original or renewal driver’s license or personal identification certificate under this chapter to make a voluntary contribution to the Fund for Veterans Assistance.
House Bill 634 House Author: Farias, Lucio III
Effective: 6/14/2013 Senate Sponsor: Rodriguez
Impact: B
The bill requires the verification of an inmate’s veteran status by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice by using the PARIS system. This bill also requires the agency to use the data to assist veterans in applying for federal benefits.
House Bill 694 House Author: Phillips
Effective: 6/14/2013 Senate Sponsor: Whitmire
Impact: C
The bill allows access to juvenile justice system records by military personnel (including recruiters), with the written permission of the individual.
House Bill 709 House Author: Isaac
Effective: 1/1/2014 Senate Sponsor: Deuell
Impact: C
The bill relates to applying overpayments for ad valorem taxes to fees or outstanding tax property tax bills.
House Bill 736 House Author: Farias
Effective: 9/1/2013 Senate Sponsor: Van de Putte
Impact: A
The bill adds the Texas Veterans Commission to the Housing and Health Services Coordination Council.
House Bill 869 House Author: Ashby, Toth
Effective: 9/1/2013 Senate Sponsor: Paxton
Impact: C
The bill amends the Family Code to provide that a county clerk may not issue a marriage license if both applicants are absent unless an affidavit is provided that declares that the absent applicant is a member of the armed forces stationed in another country in support of combat or another military operation
House Bill 1123 House Author: Herrero
Effective: 9/1/2013 Senate Sponsor: Rodriguez
Impact: C
The bill amends Section 372.053 (a), Transportation Code, to require a toll project entity to offer free or reduced tolls to vehicles registered with “Legion of Valor” military specialty license plates
House Bill 1129 House Author: White, et al.
Effective: 6/14/2013 Senate Sponsor: Van de Putte/Hinojosa
Impact: C
The bill requires the secretary of State to select certain counties to participate in the e-mail ballot program and operate the program as a pilot program until its expiration on September 1, 2015. The bill would require the Secretary of State to file a report with the legislature no later than January 1, 2015, which may include recommendations related to the program.
House Bill 1287 House Author: Hilderbran
Effective: 9/1/2013 Senate Sponsor: Estes
Impact: C
The bill amends Section 11.43 of the Tax Code, regarding property taxation, taxable property and exemptions, to exempt a resident of a facility that provides services related to health, infirmity, or aging, or is certified for participation in the address confidentiality program administered by the Attorney General under Subchapter C of Chapter 56 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
House Bill 1348 House Author: Menendez
Effective: 1/1/2014 Senate Sponsor: Uresti
Impact: C
The bill relates to the taxation of certain tangible personal property located inside a defense base development authority. The site is in Bexar County, the City of San Antonio, with 91 percent in the South San Antonio school district, and 9 percent in the Edgewood school district (except for certain inventory which is 100 percent in Edgewood school district). The applicable projected tax rates were applied to estimate the levy loss to the City of San Antonio and Bexar County, and to estimate the initial school district loss.
House Bill 1427 House Author: Sheffield, R.
Effective: 6/14/2013 Senate Sponsor: Fraser
Impact: C
The bill adds a municipality with a population greater than 65,000 and less than 90,000 that is located in a county in which part but not all of a military installation is located to the list of municipalities for donation of surplus real property under Section 253.013a.
House Bill 1514 House Author: Howard
Effective: 9/1/2013 Senate Sponsor: Campbell/Zaffirini
Impact: C
The bill amends Chapter 681 of the Transportation Code to include vehicles registered with World War II Veteran specialty license plates to the list of registered vehicles currently exempt from payment of parking fees collected through parking meters charged by a governmental authority other than a branch of the federal government, when being operated by or for the transportation of persons who registered the vehicle
House Bill 1589 House Author: Cortez, R. Miller
Effective: 6/14/2013 Senate Sponsor: Van de Putte
Impact: C
The bill changes the award for the Texas Legislative Medal of Honor to one person for service in the state or federal military forces during the period beginning after 1835 but before 1956; and one person for service in the state or federal military forces after 1955.
House Bill 1678 House Author: Frullo, Cortez
Effective: 9/1/2013 Senate Sponsor: Duncan, Campbell
Impact: C
The bill amends the Transportation Code to authorize an eligible person to register one vehicle with a set of specialty license plates issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) for surviving spouses of disabled veterans without payment of any fee other than the fee for the specialty plate. There is no fee under current law for the “Surviving Spouse Disabled Veteran” specialty license plate, but applicants for the specialty plate must pay the vehicle registration fee.
House Bill 1726 House Author: Bohac
Effective: 6/14/2013 Senate Sponsor: Zaffirini
Impact: C
The bill authorizes the Comptroller of Public Accounts to contract with a vendor to provide shipping coordination services to all state agencies and would be required to pay the vendor from anticipated savings realized under the contract. In contracting for the oversight of shipping logistics and coordination services under this section, the comptroller may provide contracting opportunities for vendors that employ veterans or other persons with disabilities whose products and services are available under Chapter 122, Human Resources Code
House Bill 1960 House Author: Cortez, et al.
Effective: 9/1/2013 Senate Sponsor: Campbell, Garcia
Impact: C
The bill amends the Health and Safety Code as it relates to reciprocity for emergency medical services personnel certification for certain United States military personnel. Under the provisions of the bill, the bill would clarify the requirements of a member of the military to be eligible for reciprocity emergency medical services personnel certification.
House Bill 2028 House Author: C. Turner, et al.
Effective: 6/14/2013 Senate Sponsor: Davis, Campbell
Impact: B
The bill amends the Occupations Code relating to the eligibility requirements for plumbing licenses issued to applicants with military experience and the issuance of those licenses.
House Bill 2029 House Author: C. Turner, et al.
Effective: 6/14/2013 Senate Sponsor: Davis, et al.
Impact: B
The bill amends the Occupations Code relating to the eligibility requirements for electrician licenses issued to applicants with military experience and the issuance of those licenses.
House Bill 2135 House Author: Cortez
Effective: 9/1/2013 Senate Sponsor: Rodriguez, Campbell
Impact: B
The bill amends Chapter 1702 of the Occupations Code relating to waivers and grants of credit for the requirements to obtain certain private security licenses to individuals with acceptable experience gained during service in the United States armed forces
House Bill 2254 House Author: Geren, et al.
Effective: 6/14/2013 Senate Sponsor: Van de Putte
Impact: B
The bill requires state agencies to apply relevant military expertise towards apprenticeship requirements for occupational licenses.
House Bill 2388 House Author: Menendez
Effective: 6/14/2013 Senate Sponsor: Van de Putte, Campbell
Impact: C
The bill adds additional qualifying projects to contracting laws to a defense base development authority
House Bill 2392 House Author: Menendez, Moody
Effective: 9/1/2013 Senate Sponsor: Van de Putte, et al.
Impact: B
The bill amends the Health and Safety Code as it relates to the mental health program for veterans. Under the provisions of the bill, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) would be required to expand the agency’s existing mental health intervention program for veterans to include specialized training for peer-to-peer counselors, veteran jail diversion services, and grants to regional and local organizations providing these services.
House Bill 2485 House Author: JD Sheffield, Cortez
Effective: 9/1/2013 Senate Sponsor: Birdwell
Impact: C
The bill amends Section 504.315, Transportation Code, to require the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Air Medal and Air Medal with Valor. The bill would amend the Transportation Code to include vehicles registered with the new Defense Superior Service Medal plates to the list of registered vehicles currently exempt from payment of parking fees collected through parking meters charged by a governmental authority.
House Bill 2562 House Author: Farias
Effective: 6/14/2013 Senate Sponsor: Van de Putte, Campbell
Impact: A
The bill requires an annual report on expanding the use of the Public Assistance Reporting Information System prepared by the Texas Veterans Commission.
House Bill 2676 House Author: Y. Davis
Effective: 6/14/2013 Senate Sponsor: Van de Putte
Impact: C
The bill amends Section 25.025, of the Tax Code, related to property taxation and the confidentiality of certain home address information, to add a current or former member of the United States armed forces who has served in an area that the president designates as an area in which armed forces of the United States are or have engaged in combat to the list of persons whose home address in the appraisal records is confidential.
House Bill 2741 House Author: Phillips
Effective: 9/1/2013 Senate Sponsor: Nichols
Impact: C
The bill authorizes the DMV to credit a person for any time remaining on a multi-year vehicle registration when the person sells or trades the registered vehicle to a dealer. The bill would increase fines and penalties for offenses under the Transportation Code Chapter 621, relating to vehicle size and weight, and Chapter 623, relating to permitting of certain vehicles.
House Bill 2924 House Author: Sheets, Sanford
Effective: 6/14/2013 Senate Sponsor: Davis
Impact: B
The bill amends the Local Government Code to reduce the time served on active duty from 12 continuous months to three continuous months in which a military leave time account would benefit a fire or police officer; and would not require the leave balance to be exhausted.
House Bill 3017 House Author: Moody, Miller
Effective: 9/1/2013 Senate Sponsor: Van de Putte
Impact: B
The bill amends the Family Code to require all income, including veterans’ service-related disability benefits, in determining the amount of child support obligations.
House Bill 3064 House Author: Menendez, Moody
Effective: 9/1/2013 Senate Sponsor: Schwertner
Impact: C
This bill authorizes the release of information from a person who possesses unclaimed cremated remains may release to the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or a veterans’ service organization verification information associated with the remains to verify whether the remains are the remains of a person who was a veteran or a veteran’s dependent eligible to be interred in a veterans cemetery.
House Bill 3066 House Author: Menendez
Effective: 6/14/2013 Senate Sponsor: Van de Putte, Campbell
Impact: C
The bills adds an area inside the boundaries of a defense base development authority established under Chapter 379B, Local Government Code to the qualifications of a base defense authority enterprise zone.
House Bill 3067 House Author: Menendez
Effective: 6/14/2013 Senate Sponsor: Van de Putte, Campbell
Impact: C
The bill removes some restricting factors on administrative authority for a defense economic readjustment zone.
Senate Bill 61 Senate Author: Nelson, et al.
Effective: 9/1/2013 House Sponsor: Cortez
Impact: B
The bill amends the Occupations Code relating to the licensing and regulation of military physicians who provide voluntary charity health care.
Senate Bill 162 Senate Author: Van de Putte, et al.
Effective: 5/18/2013 House Sponsor: Flynn
Impact: B
The bill allows for an expedited occupational license procedure for military spouses.
Senate Bill 164 Senate Author: Van de Putte
Effective: 9/1/2013 House Sponsor: Isaac, Sheets
Impact: C
The bill amends the Government Code and the Transportation Code to require the Department of Public Safety to create a “veteran” designation to be placed upon request of the veteran on the veteran’s Concealed Handgun License and personal identification certificate.
Senate Bill 165 Senate Author: Van de Putte
Effective: 9/1/2013 House Sponsor: Creighton
Impact: C
The bill amends the Transportation Code to require the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to issue specialty license plates for graduates of the United States Merchant Marine Academy and the United States Coast Guard Academy.
Senate Bill 229 Senate Author: Davis, et al.
Effective: 9/1/2013 House Sponsor: C. Turner, et al.
Impact: B
The bill amends the Transportation Code to authorize the Department of Public Safety to issue a commercial driver’s license to a nonresident serving in the U.S. armed forces, including the National Guard or reserve or auxiliary units, whose temporary or permanent duty station is located in this state.
Senate Bill 242 Senate Author: Carona, Uresti
Effective: 6/14/2013 House Sponsor: Farias
Impact: B
The bill amends the Occupations Code allowing military experience to count towards the eligibility requirements for certain occupational licenses.
Senate Bill 260 Senate Author: Davis, et al.
Effective: 6/14/2013 House Sponsor: Strickland, et al.
Impact: C
The bill requires a school district to excuse for a maximum of five days the absence of a student whose active duty military parent, stepparent, or guardian has been called for duty, is on leave from, or has immediately returned from continuous deployment of at least four months outside of the area in which they regularly reside. These excused absences must be taken within 60 days of the date of deployment or within 30 days after the return of the parent, stepparent, or legal guardian.
Senate Bill 284 Senate Author: West
Effective: 6/14/2013 House Sponsor: Fletcher
Impact: C
The bill amends the Code of Criminal Procedure to grant limited state law enforcement authority to police officers with the Office of Security and Law Enforcement of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
Senate Bill 312 Senate Author: Hegar
Effective: 9/1/2013 House Sponsor: Laubenberg
Impact: C
The bill amends Chapters 401 and 402 of the Occupations Code, related to the regulation of speech-language pathology and audiology and the fitting and dispensing of hearing instruments. The bill would impact the State Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology and the State Committee of Examiners in the Fitting and Dispensing of Health Instruments Committee, both licensing boards that are administratively attached to the Department of State Health Services.
Senate Bill 462 Senate Author: Huffman
Effective: 9/1/2013 House Sponsor: Lewis
Impact: B
The bill creates a new General Revenue-Dedicated Specialty Court Account would be created to receive specialty court fees that were previously collected for various drug court programs and deposited into the General Revenue Fund. The bill would deposit the existing revenues into a newly created General Revenue-Dedicated Account for Specialty Courts to fund all of the specialty court programs under Subtitle K.
Senate Bill 530 Senate Author: Birdwell, et al.
Effective: 9/1/2013 House Sponsor: Orr, Cortez
Impact: C
The bill amends the Transportation Code to authorize a disabled veterans license plate issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles upon request to include one emblem of a veteran’s branch of service or one emblem from another license plate to which the person is entitled under Sections 504.308, 504.315, or 504.316 of the Transportation Code.
Senate Bill 563 Senate Author: Hegar
Effective: 9/1/2013 House Sponsor: Zerwas
Impact: C
The bill amends the Transportation Code to require the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal. The bill would amend Transportation Code, Section 504.3015, to require one set of the new specialty license plate to be issued without payment of the vehicle registration fee.
Senate Bill 597 Senate Author: Birdwell, Uresti
Effective: 9/1/2013 House Sponsor: Taylor, et al.
Impact: C
The bill amends the Transportation Code to require the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialty license plates for persons who served in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
Senate Bill 846 Senate Author: Van de Putte, Rodriguez
Effective: 9/1/2013 House Sponsor: Menendez, Moody
Impact: A
The bill amends the Government Code to require the Texas Veterans Commission to coordinate with the Department of State Health Services to incorporate suicide prevention as a component in training and examination material provided to local county service officers.
Senate Bill 904 Senate Author: Van de Putte
Effective: 9/1/2013 House Sponsor: Morrison
Impact: C
The bill amends the Election Code to require the Secretary of State to create optional guidelines to be used by early voting clerks in processing an application and providing balloting materials to military and overseas voters. The bill would establish certain election related deadlines and repeal Section 50, Chapter 1318 (S.B. 100), Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, thereby prohibiting the Secretary of State from adjusting or modifying affected election dates.
Senate Bill 981 Senate Author: Van de Putte, et al.
Effective: 6/14/2013 House Sponsor: Menendez
Impact: B
The bill authorizes retail electric providers, electric cooperatives, or municipal electric utilities to establish a program assisting veterans burned in combat and recover the costs associated with the program. The bill would require the Public Utility Commission to compile a list of bill payment assistance programs for burned veterans available from retail electric providers and publish the list on the PUC’s website.
Senate Bill 1061 Senate Author: Van de Putte
Effective: 9/1/2013 House Sponsor: Menendez
Impact: C
The bill amends the Transportation Code to specify that a vehicle operated by or for the transportation of certain disabled veterans or a vehicle that displays a disabled veterans license plate issued in this state or another state may be parked for an unlimited period in a parking space or area that is designated specifically for persons with physical disabilities on the property of an institution of higher education regardless of whether a permit is generally required for the use.
Senate Bill 1158 Senate Author: Van de Putte, et al.
Effective: 6/14/2013 House Sponsor: Menendez
Impact: A
The bill adds to the Veterans Education Counselors Program by requiring the TVC to employ veteran’s education counselors to work with institutions of higher education, veterans groups, military installations, and local workforce development boards to perform activities to enhance educational opportunities for veterans.
Senate Bill 1159 Senate Author: Van de Putte
Effective: 6/14/2013 House Sponsor: Patrick
Impact: A
The bill amends the Education Code in regards to tuition and fee exemptions for certain military personnel and their families relating to the age requirement. The exemption applies to statutory tuition, designated tuition, and certain fees at public higher education institutions, including general academic institutions, health related institutions, public community/junior colleges, and other two year institutions.
Senate Bill 1200 Senate Author: Van de Putte
Effective: 9/1/2013 House Sponsor: Menendez
Impact: C
This bill amends the Government Code to provide for the composition and general powers and duties of the Texas Military Preparedness Commission, including the requirement to: act as a liaison to improve coordination among the Texas Commander’s Council, the Texas Veterans Commission, the Veterans’ Land Board, the Public Utility Commission of Texas, the Office of Public Utility Counsel, and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
Senate Bill 1373 Senate Author: Hinojosa
Effective: 9/1/2013 House Sponsor: R. Miller
Impact: C
The bill authorizes each state office building, the State Cemetery, and at each veterans cemetery managed by the Veterans’ Land Board to display the Honor and Remember Flag on certain occasions.
Senate Bill 1376 Senate Author: Eltife
Effective: 9/1/2013 House Sponsor: Paddie
Impact: C
The bill amends the Transportation Code to require the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialty license plates that include the word “retired” for certain retired members of the United States Armed Forces.
Senate Bill 1476 Senate Author: West, et al.
Effective: 6/14/2013 House Sponsor: R. Sheffield, et al.
Impact: A
This bill directs the Texas Veterans Commission to establish and administer the Veteran Entrepreneur Program.
Senate Bill 1536 Senate Author: Van de Putte, Campbell
Effective: 9/1/2013 House Sponsor: Menendez
Impact: C
The bill amends the Government Code relating to the Texas Military Forces by adding new Chapter 437 and repealing Sections 431.002, 431.003, 431.004, 431.005, 431.0055, 431.006, 431.007, 431.008, 431.009, 431.010, 431.011, 431.012, 431.013, 431.014, 431.015, 431.016, 431.017, 431.0175, 431.018, 431.0185, and subchapters B, C, D, F, G, and I of Chapter 431.
Senate Bill 1553 Senate Author: Lucio, Van de Putte
Effective: 6/14/2013 House Sponsor: Farias, Guillen
Impact: C
This bill adds military veterans to the Texas Home for Heroes program.
Senate Bill 1879 Senate Author: Eltife
Effective: 6/14/2013 House Sponsor: Lavender
Impact: C
This bill adds duties to the TexAmericas Center to include promoting or supporting an active military base located in the same county as the authority to prevent closure or realignment of the base and attract new military missions to the base.
Senate Bill 1892 Senate Author: Garcia
Effective: 9/1/2013 House Sponsor: Menendez
Impact: A
This bill adds the new member agencies to the Texas Coordinating Council for Veterans Services