BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1814 89R8373 GP-D By: Hancock Veteran Affairs 3/14/2025 As Filed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Approximately 1.5 million veterans live in Texas, and most are unaware of the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) services. In 2022, the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs was tasked with an interim charge to study ways to connect veterans with existing business resources and available state services. The committee's findings led them to recommend the legislature explore the creation of an interagency database within the state's veteran agency to collect contact information of veterans exiting military service. The service database would act as a casework management system where the agency can track who is reaching out to the individual, where they are located in Texas, and what services they are seeking. This would also allow for TVC to proactively reach out to veterans as they move through the process of transitioning to civilian life, provided the veteran chooses to share their contact information. As proposed, S.B. 1814 amends current law relating to creation and maintenance of an electronic database to provide information to certain members of the United States armed forces regarding the resources and benefits provided to veterans. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Veterans Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 434.0261, Government Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, by adding Section 434.0261, as follows: Sec. 434.0261. ELECTRONIC DATABASE OF CONTACT INFORMATION FOR SERVICE MEMBERS LEAVING ACTIVE DUTY. (a) Requires the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) to establish and maintain an electronic database that includes the name and contact information of each member of the United States armed forces who: (1) has provided written consent to TVC to have the member's information included in the database; and (2) will be discharged or released from active duty within 12 months of the date the member provides the consent described by Subdivision (1). (b) Requires that the database established under Subsection (a) allow state agencies and local veteran service organizations, including veterans county service offices, that have applied to and been approved by TVC to access the database for the purpose of providing to members of the United States armed forces included in the database information regarding state and local benefits and resources available to veterans, including information regarding employment and training opportunities, housing, entrepreneurial and health care services, and veteran support groups. (c) Requires TVC to adopt rules necessary to implement and administer this section, including rules establishing the procedure by which entities apply to and are approved by TVC to access the database established under Subsection (a). SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1814
89R8373 GP-D By: Hancock
Veteran Affairs
3/14/2025
As Filed
Senate Research Center
S.B. 1814
89R8373 GP-D
By: Hancock
Veteran Affairs
3/14/2025
As Filed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Approximately 1.5 million veterans live in Texas, and most are unaware of the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) services.
In 2022, the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs was tasked with an interim charge to study ways to connect veterans with existing business resources and available state services. The committee's findings led them to recommend the legislature explore the creation of an interagency database within the state's veteran agency to collect contact information of veterans exiting military service.
The service database would act as a casework management system where the agency can track who is reaching out to the individual, where they are located in Texas, and what services they are seeking. This would also allow for TVC to proactively reach out to veterans as they move through the process of transitioning to civilian life, provided the veteran chooses to share their contact information.
As proposed, S.B. 1814 amends current law relating to creation and maintenance of an electronic database to provide information to certain members of the United States armed forces regarding the resources and benefits provided to veterans.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Veterans Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 434.0261, Government Code) of this bill.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, by adding Section 434.0261, as follows:
Sec. 434.0261. ELECTRONIC DATABASE OF CONTACT INFORMATION FOR SERVICE MEMBERS LEAVING ACTIVE DUTY. (a) Requires the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) to establish and maintain an electronic database that includes the name and contact information of each member of the United States armed forces who:
(1) has provided written consent to TVC to have the member's information included in the database; and
(2) will be discharged or released from active duty within 12 months of the date the member provides the consent described by Subdivision (1).
(b) Requires that the database established under Subsection (a) allow state agencies and local veteran service organizations, including veterans county service offices, that have applied to and been approved by TVC to access the database for the purpose of providing to members of the United States armed forces included in the database information regarding state and local benefits and resources available to veterans, including information regarding employment and training opportunities, housing, entrepreneurial and health care services, and veteran support groups.
(c) Requires TVC to adopt rules necessary to implement and administer this section, including rules establishing the procedure by which entities apply to and are approved by TVC to access the database established under Subsection (a).
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2025.