Texas State Veteran's Benefits

The State of Texas provides several veteranoperations. Learn more
benefits. 
(VLB), a division of the Texas General LandNo-Cost Medical Records
Office, administers three veterans' loan programs:Under the Health and Safety Code, Chapter
The Land Loan Program, Veterans Housing161.201 Subchapter M, Medical or Mental Health
Assistance Purchase Program, and the VeteransRecords, Texas veterans are eligible for no cost
Home Improvement Loan Program.  Learn moremedical records when they are obtained to file a
about the Texas Veterans Land Board Programsclaim for a disability against the U.S. Department
 of Veterans Affairs (USDVA).  The health care
Texas State Veterans Homesprovider or health care facility is not required to
The Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB), a divisionprovide more than one complete record for the
of the Texas General Land Office, administers thepatient or former patient without charge.  Also, it
Texas State Veterans Homes program.should be noted, that some medical facilities will
 charge a small administrative fee for obtaining the
Texas Financial Assistance Programsrecords.
Tax Exemption for Veterans. Disabled veterans 
who meet certain requirements, their survivingFree Drivers License for Disabled Veterans
spouses and the spouses and minor children of aUnder Texas Transportation Code Title 7,
person who dies on active duty in the U.S. ArmedChapter 521, Section 521.426, Texas drivers
Forces are eligible for property tax exemptionslicenses may be furnished free of charge to
on the appraised value of their property. Theveterans who have service-connected disabilities
exemption is mandatory and applies to taxesrated 60% or more by the VA or by a branch of
levied by all taxing authorities in the State. Athe Armed Forces of the U.S. Application must be
veteran, whose service-connected disabilities aremade prior to the time present drivers license
rated less than 10% by the Department ofexpires. Application forms may be obtained from
Veterans Affairs, or a branch of the ArmedDepartment of Public Safety's license examining
Forces, is not entitled to a property taxoffices located throughout the State. We have
exemption.provided a link to the to the Texas Department
 of Public Safety's Drivers License information
Texas State Veteran Education Benefitswebsite. Application forms should be completed by
The Hazlewood Act. Wartime veterans who werethe veteran and forwarded to the VA for
legal residents of Texas at the time they enteredverification of service-connected rating of 60% or
military service, and Home of Record is listed asmore. If a veteran was disability-retired from
Texas on the DD214, are entitled to a waiver ofmilitary service and has no VA claim file, proof of
tuition and some fees at State-supported/publicdisability must come from their respective branch
(taxpayer supported) colleges and universities.of military service.
This benefit is also available to children of Texas 
servicemen and women who died or were killed inFishing and Hunting Licenses for Disabled Veterans
military service, and to children of Texas militaryDisabled veterans are eligible for special hunting
personnel who are shown to be missing in actionand fishing licenses, at a reduced cost. A disabled
or prisoners of war.  Also eligible are children ofveteran of the Armed Forces of the United
members of the Texas National Guard or theStates is one who has a service-connected
Texas Air National Guard killed since January 1,disability, as defined by the Department of
1946, while on active duty either in service ofVeterans Affairs, consisting of the loss of use of
Texas or the United States. Learn more a lower extremity or of a disability rating of 60%
 or more, and who is receiving compensation from
Texas Veteran Employment Programsthe United States for the disability. A resident
Veterans Preference. Wartime veterans haveveteran as described in the law may hunt wild
preference in employment with State agencies orturkey and deer without a resident hunting license
offices, as do widows and children of those killedif he has acquired a resident exemption hunting
on active duty.  State agencies must practicelicense. We have provided a link to the Texas
veterans' preference until they have reachedParks and Wildlife website for your convenience.
40% veteran employment. Non-retired veterans 
who are employed by the State of Texas areFree Park Admission for Disabled Veterans
entitled to claim their active duty military timeFree admission to Texas State Parks is available
toward retirement, provided they present ato any veteran who has a service-connected
proper request and pay to the Retirementdisability, which is rated 60% or more by VA, or
System the specified amount of retirementa service-connected disability, which has resulted in
contribution for up to 60 months' military credit.the loss of a lower extremity. Application may be
Such contribution is paid at the rate which wasmade at the headquarters office of any Texas
applicable at the time the employed veteran firstState park by providing satisfactory evidence of
was covered by the state Retirement System,service-connected disability. If such evidence is not
plus any accrued interest. readily available, it can be obtained from the VA
 regional office where the claims folder is located.
Additionally, a veteran is entitled to reemploymentThe Texas State Parklands Passport is available
rights with his last employer when he is releasedto any veteran who meets the disability
from the Armed Forces of the United States,requirements, whether or not he or she resides in
providing his absence is not longer than fourTexas. The Passport provides only free admission
years. The right of reemployment is availableto the State parks, and does not exempt anyone
regardless of whether the veteran was, prior tofrom payment of other charges, such as camping
service, employed by the State, county or cityfees, etc. We have provided a link to the Texas
government, or by private industry.Parks and Wildlife website for your convenience.
Reemployment rights of veterans are now 
provided by both State and Federal laws.  LearnFree Recording of Discharges
more Under Texas State law, Local Government Code
 Sec. 0192.002, the County Clerk in each County is
Other Texas State Veteran Benefitsrequired to record, free of charge, the official
Texas State Cemetery Program. In thedischarge of each veteran who served in the
November 2001 statewide elections, votersArmed Forces of the United States of America.
overwhelmingly approved Proposition 7, aThis free service is very important as it provides
constitutional amendment that authorized theveterans with a ready source from which they
creation of up to seven state cemeteries forcan obtain a certified copy of their discharge
veterans and their eligible dependents. Thewhenever it is needed.  It is the veteran's
cemeteries will be built and operated through aresponsibility to have the DD214 or Discharge
partnership between the Texas Veterans Landrecorded.  Please also note that if you do record
Board (VLB) and the U.S. Department ofyour DD214 with the County Clerk, it then
Veterans Affairs (USDVA). The USDVA will fundbecomes a public record.  Note that the Texas
up to 100 percent of the construction andVeterans Commission does not keep a record of
equipment costs. The state will own and operateyour DD214 or Discharge.
the cemeteries and fund most of the cost of