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Hazlewood Act, Hunting & Fishing Licenses, Veteran Property Tax Exemptions and more
Texas is quite proud of its many contributions to the United States Armed Forces in the way of personnel, military bases, and benefits to its Veterans. In an effort to honor its resident Servicemembers, the state offers several Veterans benefits for Texas such as Veteran home loans, a special Texas state park pass, Texas disabled Veteran benefits, disabled Veteran property tax exemption, Hazlewood Act education benefits and Veterans Texas hunting license. Keep reading to learn more about these Texas Veteran benefits.
Texas offers many financial benefits to Servicemembers in addition to VA programs through the Texas Veterans Commission.
The disabled Veteran property tax exemption excludes disabled Vets from certain taxes through its homestead tax exemption Texas program. For example, Veterans with a percentage disability issued by the VA qualify for the Texas disabled Veteran property tax exemption. In Texas, Veterans with a disability rating of:
The homestead tax exemption Texas is not the only benefit for disabled Texas Veterans.
Disabled Veterans also do not have to pay the registration fee for a Texas driver’s license as part of their Texas disabled Veteran benefits. Texas offers a free driver’s license for disabled Veterans who are part of the 100% disabled Veteran benefits Texas network. Texas offers free driver’s licenses to Veterans who have a qualifying service-connected disability. This exemption does not apply to commercial driver’s licenses as part of Texas Veteran benefits. Veterans must meet the following requirements for the free driver’s license for Veterans:
Veterans who are part of the 100% disabled Veteran benefits Texas listings may be eligible for Veteran specialty license plates. Veterans with disabilities may qualify for a license plate with the international symbol of access (ISA) or a parking placard.
While the VA at the federal level administers educational benefits to Servicemembers such as the GI Bill, the state of Texas also offers its own educational benefits to military personnel.
The Texas Hazlewood Act is part of the many Veterans benefits for Texas and provides up to 150 hours of tuition exemption for qualified Veterans, spouses, and dependent children at public institutions of higher education in Texas. To qualify, a Veteran must have served active duty, be a Texas resident at the time of entering service, and have received an honorable discharge. The Texas Hazelwood Act for Spouse and Child also covers educational benefits for the dependents of Texas resident Veterans, so long as they do not qualify for federal VA education benefits, reside in Texas, and meet GPA requirements. The children of Texas Servicemembers are also eligible for the Legacy Act under the Texas Hazlewood Act if they are the biological child, stepchild, or adopted child of a Servicemember, are under 21, are Texas residents, and meet GPA requirements. The Hazlewood Act does not replace the GI Bill or its components, and many Veterans make use of the Hazlewood Act benefits alongside federal education benefits.
Texas also provides incentives for employers offering on-the-job training to Veterans and recently discharged Servicemembers. Some Texas disabled Veteran benefits also partner with the Hazelwood Act and the GI Bill.
Veterans living in Texas have many employment benefits available to them at a state level as part of Texas Veteran benefits. Some Texas disabled Veteran benefits in employment work alongside VA programs for disabled Veterans seeking employment as part of the many state of Texas Veteran benefits.
Texas provides a Veterans Employment Preference program by the Texas Workforce Commission, which encourages many employers in Texas to give Veterans preference when hiring new employees.
Texas also recognizes military time served as time accrued towards retirement through its Military Time Credit Towards State Retirement program.
For TCDRS, you can count up to five years of active military service toward retirement eligibility so long as you were discharged under honorable conditions. For TRS, you can purchase up to five years of active duty military credit, out-of-state service, substituted service, or unreported service under certain conditions.
The Texas Veterans Commission also administers the Veteran Entrepreneur Program, which provides Veteran entrepreneurs and Veteran small businesses the tools they need to start or grow their businesses. This includes access to marketing research, government contracts, financial services, business plans, and specialized logos indicating that the business is Veteran-owned. Many of these business receive other Texas Veteran benefits for businesses as well.
While the VA provides healthcare to Veterans, Servicemembers and retirees through the TRICARE system, Texas also offers Veterans certain state-sponsored health care benefits, primarily through advocacy and administering of VA benefits. The Texas Veterans Commission helps Veterans who are having trouble accessing their VA benefits and maintains a Healthcare Advocacy Department to assist in these matters. They assist with enrollment in TRICARE, billing issues, prescription assistance, and mental health advocacy.
Texas offers several programs for Veterans designed to help with home and housing issues through the Texas Veterans Land Board.
Available for elder Texas Veterans are the Texas State Veterans Homes, which are part of the network of state of Texas Veteran benefits. These long-term care facilities, operated by the Texas Veterans Land Board, provide skilled nursing care and assisted living for Veterans and their spouses or for Gold Star parents of deceased Servicemembers. Veterans who have been discharged from service after at least 90 days, have a physician’s note detailing the need for Texas VLB home skilled nursing care, and have resided in Texas for at least a day qualify for this benefit. Veterans with a disability rating of 70% or higher reside for free in Texas VLB homes and receive state level Texas Veteran benefits.
The Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB) is a state agency that provides loans and other services to Texas Veterans and military members. These include both land and home loans, as well as cemetery financing and skilled nursing care assistance.
As part of the VLB, the Texas Veterans Home Improvement Program (VHIP) provides loans for home repairs, Veteran home loans and improvement loans to qualifying Servicemembers, while the Veterans Housing Assistance Program (VHAP) provides loans for home purchases. These are designed to work hand in hand with VA-backed Veteran home loans, although some private banks in Texas also offer their own Veteran home loans.
Texas is a beautiful state with many outdoor recreation opportunities. The state offers many perks for Servicemembers who wish to get out and enjoy Texas’ natural wonders.
The Texas state parks offer disabled Veterans free state park admissions through their Parklands Passport program. The Passport is available at any state park. Veterans must show a photo ID, military discharge papers, or some other form of military identification. Active duty and Gold Star families receive free admission with this Texas state park pass, and Veterans with a disability rating of 60% or more also receive free admission.
Texas also provides a disabled Veterans hunting & fishing license as part of the various Texas Veteran benefits. These are only available in person at a licensed retailer location. However, these licenses are all-encompassing, covering hunting, fishing, archery, and migratory bird hunting.
Texas provides an active duty hunting & fishing license in its “Super Combo” Hunting and All-Water Fishing Package. This is a free Texas hunting license for Texas residents who are on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, although this Texas hunting license requires yearly renewal.
Texas maintains several military cemeteries as the final resting place for Texas resident Veterans. The VA maintains these cemeteries in partnership with Texas Veteran benefits programs. Most cemeteries have the capacity to accommodate both casket burials and the interment of cremated remains. Any Veteran with an honorable discharge, at least one day or more of active duty, who was a member of the National Guard or Reserves called up during wartime, or who served a full term during peacetime, is eligible for burial in the Texas Veterans cemeteries.
Texas is a great state with many military ties and a storied military history. Today, Texas continues to honor its military heritage by providing services and Texas Veteran benefits at the state level to its Veteran residents, especially the Texas hunting license program and Hazlewood Act education benefits for Veterans and their families. Any Veteran residing in Texas who is interested in learning more should contact the Texas Veterans Commission or their local VA regional office.
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