HB 2327
AN ACT relating to eligibility for loans from the Veterans' Land Board.
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
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 Sponsors
Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to eligibility for loans from the Veterans' Land Board.
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