Legislative Update

The following are a few of the veteran related bills that passed during the 87th Texas Legislature. Your membership helps make our voice strong to push this kind of legislation.

EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY

SB 937 — Relating to an excused absence from a public institution of higher education for a student called to required military service. The bill now shows excused absence for required military service is performed by members of the Texas National Guard and Texas

State Guard.

EFFECTIVE 9/1/21

HB 33 — Relating to measures to facilitate the award of postsecondary course credit leading to workforce credentialing based on military experience, education, and training. This streamlines the process for military spouses and veterans to use their PCS orders to establish residency in Texas and get to work in Texas using their clinical and/or professional experience to expedite licensure.

HB 911 — Relating to the issuance of specially marked driver’s licenses and personal identification certificates to veterans. It requires the Texas Department of Transportation to maintain forms and procedures on the department’s website by which veterans may request and provide the proof required for a veteran personal identifications and certificates.

SB 460 — Relating to designating the 11th day of each month as Buddy Check Day. Buddy Check Day is to encourage veterans to contact other veterans, including those with whom they have served with to find out if they need any assistance.

SB 484 — Relating to the right of a member of the state military forces to retain private legal counsel and file a civil action. See page 11 for additional details

concerning this senate bill.

SB 793 — relating to a ribbon for certain service members of the military who served in support of operations to secure this state’s international border. The Texas Border Security and Support Service Ribbon which shall be awarded to a service member of the military forces of this state, another state, or the United States who served: a. On or after July 28, 2015. b. On state active duty or active duty under state authority in accordance with Title 32, United States Code, for at least 90 consecutive days, or in response to an emergency activation. c. Honorably in support of operations under civilian authority to secure this state’s international border.

SB 792 — Relating to Specialty license plates and parking placards for vehicles of certain disabled veterans. This bill allows for the issuance of specialty license plates and parking placards for vehicles of certain disabled veterans who operate or are for the transportation of the person to whom the plates were issued. H

ON JULY 24, 2021, CONGRESSWOMAN KAY GRANGER

(R-TX) (center), Lead Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, was the 136th Airlift Wing’s Guest of Honor for the arrival of its first of eight C-130J Super Hercules aircraft at the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NAS JRB) Fort Worth. This first aircraft was named “The Kay Granger” in her honor. In November 2020, the Department of the Air Force announced that the 136th Airlift Wing of the Texas Air National Guard would be receiving eight C-130Js to replace its aging fleet of C-130H aircraft. Pictured with Congresswoman Granger is Col Dave Demarque (left), 136th Operations Group Commander and CMSgt Jeff McGuirk (right), 136th Operations Group Chief.