HB 2327

AN ACT relating to eligibility for loans from the Veterans' Land Board.

House Bill Hopper | Virdell | Lowe | Schatzline | Schoolcraft
Filed

Filed

Bill introduced by legislator

Committee

Hearing

Passed Cmte

Calendar

Passed

Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

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What This Bill Does

Expands the definition of "veteran" for the Veterans' Land Board loan program to include service members with at least 20 years of active or reserve military service, members of the Texas National Guard who have completed initial training, and those who served 184 days or more securing the Texas-Mexico border. The expanded definition also allows unmarried surviving spouses of veterans to be eligible for loans, provided the veteran was a Texas resident at the time of service and meets certain criteria. The changes aim to broaden loan access for military personnel and their families who have served the state and nation.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to eligibility for loans from the Veterans' Land Board.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Section 161.001(a)(7), Natural Resources Code,
(7)  "Veteran" means a person who:
(A)(i)  served not less than 90 days, unless
sooner discharged by reason of a service-connected disability, on
active duty in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, United States
Public Health Service (as constituted under 42 U.S.C. Section 201
et seq.), or Marine Corps of the United States after September 16,
1940, and who on the date of filing an application under the program
has not been dishonorably discharged from the branch of the service
(ii)  has at least 20 years of active or
reserve military service as computed when determining the person's
eligibility to receive retired pay under applicable federal law;
(iii)  has enlisted or received an
appointment in the Texas National Guard, who has completed all
initial active duty training required as a condition of the
enlistment or appointment, and who on the date of filing the
person's application has not been dishonorably discharged from the
(iv)  served in the armed forces of the
Republic of Vietnam between February 28, 1961, and May 7, 1975, if
the board adopts a rule regarding these veterans under Subsection
(v)  served as a member of a military force
organized under state law and who, on the date of filing an
application under this chapter:
(a)  has served for 184 days or more as
part of  a  mission to secure the Texas-Mexico border on behalf of
discharged from the military force in which the person served; and
(B)  at the time of the person's enlistment,
induction, commissioning, appointment, or drafting was a bona fide
resident of this state or has resided in this state at least one
year immediately before the date of filing an application under
(C)  at the time of the person's application under
this chapter is a bona fide resident of this state.  The term
includes the unmarried surviving spouse of a veteran who died or who
is identified as missing in action if the deceased or missing
veteran meets the requirements of this section, with the exception
that the deceased or missing veteran need not have served 90 days
under Paragraph (A)(i) of this subdivision, and if the deceased or
missing veteran was a bona fide resident of this state at the time
of enlistment, induction, commissioning, appointment, or drafting.
SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to eligibility for loans from the Veterans' Land Board.