[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6125895,"mediaKeyId","2674324-0f28789595fc858fe146aebc4e17a084","parentId",2674324,"title","Committee hears bill to grant temporary Texas licenses for military members and spouses awaiting out-of-state letters","audioSeconds",221,"startMs",1717000,"endMs",1938000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2674324-0f28789595fc858fe146aebc4e17a084&start=1717&end=1938","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2674324-0f28789595fc858fe146aebc4e17a084/thumbnail_1717000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6125895/Texas/Committee-hears-bill-to-grant-temporary-Texas-licenses-for-military-members-and-spouses-awaiting-out-of-state-letters","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125895-30bfa0057884ed3f8d5319c909689219/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149811&Signature=d9w8hOXWCZPujUtXzCrnZJ2-9EoY0e2pdqEkSCYNX7pw9ck2~Dk6sAFNwkYUbL-8mLStI8kw1jVIzGXQUc--9v6Gj06jsWcn~YuVLV1AYqju42WjJtIwf3aoU1gD1K2Y3pQU~cVZ5IXsA7Bl5KtlbGEVlawwSuJHT~4U7-ZhDS9kg96rHcuAfAFNGndSxJMYw2NFjPFKoLbY4WQUBxjocC1wuMOY1T9C3qKUbsFliWpbJb1JB4CoxB2FhEGbBzVFxTyMVnpGYzSjLP0i6UYq2wi1EbTrfIntCOpgoZAbGBUx6lcekplmvu63p1lrNUdlTZbEppblwPwEYDAMaJ5iTw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Texas State Legislature","date","2025-03-18T00:00:00Z","article","Senator Hancock explained Senate Bill 1818 would implement a six-month temporary licensing and certification process for military members and spouses who hold out-of-state licenses and are awaiting a \"letter in good standing\" from the issuing authority. \"Some states may take as long as 6 months to issue a letter in good standing... Senate Bill 18 18 would implement a 6 month temporary licensing and certification process for military members and spouses assigned to the Texas military installations that are simply awaiting the letter of good standing,\" Hancock said. The temporary authorization would allow applicants to work in Texas while they await verification from the other state.

Mitch Fuller, legislative director for the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Texas, testified in support of the bill and said the measure would help veterans and military families find employment. \"...the best way to help, military families and veterans is to help them find a job, make sure they have a job,\" Fuller said, adding the VFW is in full support of the bill.

Committee members asked clarifying questions about eligibility for service members retiring and moving to Texas; Hancock said the measure would include military spouses and those coming off active duty moving to the state. Public testimony closed and SB 1818 was left pending.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs 03/18/2025\t","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Bill 1818 would create a six-month temporary license or certificate for military service members and spouses assigned to Texas installations who are awaiting a 'letter in good standing' from another issuing authority; veterans groups testified in favor.","taxTitle","Committee on Veteran Affairs, Senate, Legislative, Texas","taxId",16929,"location","Texas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6125901,"Sponsor outlines proposal for interagency veteran transition database; fiscal note estimated at $5 million",158,1518000,1676000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2674324-0f28789595fc858fe146aebc4e17a084&start=1518&end=1676","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2674324-0f28789595fc858fe146aebc4e17a084/thumbnail_1518000.jpg","/articles/6125901/Texas/Sponsor-outlines-proposal-for-interagency-veteran-transition-database-fiscal-note-estimated-at-5-million","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125901-c8b6c74aee2e1a5dd68e8b5de9fd5940/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149811&Signature=JqWMgAiSaFBI-XUGdrOJznBqCuAqEVZfAOUR8faUdmalJcrxU-Dct3No-RTc-QbmbbJ0HOuxToYNLvQt4SknSJB5bkCaVQncLLbxurFDWE-8RHHDN5OMfx4ioiWSwF4D1bi2NL52fdR6UXbT36H258vmK6EpON5h6k3ly-vgumB7UT9p1I4J0DC3xi3DAOmn39ob-8vWmEHvYccBp8fKnjkcgTlLP-AjrWDIwGrNPUvvxqcE926E4NdvBvq8hwS69IABNGGOk9NEebtMqddQidcOT4CuZKhDPkcQwptN4E9giD00SINkpwWyJFXsISdu1DvZHJb7-xgU7ESjh0QHcA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Hancock described Senate Bill 1814 as a response to an interim committee recommendation to create an interagency database that would let state veteran agencies collect voluntarily provided contact information for service members leaving the military and provide coordinated casework. \"The service database would act as a casework management system, much like your staff uses, today, where the agency can track who is reaching out to the individual, where they are located in Texas, and what services they are seeking,\" Hancock said. He emphasized the system would be voluntary and used only for veterans who choose to share contact information.

A committee member who identified himself as a trucking-company owner and who spoke about employer hiring told the committee a searchable contact system would help connect veterans to employers for in-demand positions such as truck driving. \"I own a trucking company...we have a 7 50 tractor trailer driver. There's a national shortage...but I know in the military, you can get the DOT will let you qualify a military veteran...Yet, we still have trouble connecting, to to get ahold of veterans,\" the senator said during discussion.

Hancock told the committee the bill returned with a roughly $5,000,000 fiscal note and the committee indicated it would work on that fiscal estimate before advancing the measure. Public testimony was limited to resource witnesses and the bill was left pending for further fiscal review and follow-up.","Senate Bill 1814 would create an interagency database to collect contact information for service members transitioning to civilian life so state veteran agencies can provide casework and outreach; the sponsor said the proposal had a $5 million fiscal note and the committee said it would work on that estimate.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6125904,"Committee considers reducing local match for Texas Veterans and Family Alliance grants",379,1106000,1485000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2674324-0f28789595fc858fe146aebc4e17a084&start=1106&end=1485","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2674324-0f28789595fc858fe146aebc4e17a084/thumbnail_1106000.jpg","/articles/6125904/Texas/Committee-considers-reducing-local-match-for-Texas-Veterans-and-Family-Alliance-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125904-ac2fc1f18668352d4b22e9b2bcb8f5f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149811&Signature=JsJIbDXFni-D3ELlAPvsJqcYpDYjPxCIPRt7H9Hj~6Q7P1Dyi5CR0sm0WARJfePB-mU7fw8LUFA~3oBlCCIo8MazlK2mUxRxfJqAhgOjpJf2V116cawU2oCzUFwcOYnqmt20gCuzJHljZz8kuQiNBXMwSlZRNLlhBc2YI-3QPodoyWHThuYOePE5OanZUVXIIR~itBWB5TOEWFu33A2cI2NibompWLfuDg6Sp9gTaAoOfdNp206zmBoL4fpxRBzoFRHSiGxMsZa5SxX0BZpl40VHxi5MD85Tj5tlGjbexMxrzapvL0KpP6yogMkSpGXHPTgb7tOtxe0ssjNqWKrSDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Hall, explaining a committee substitute for Senate Bill 897 filed for Senator Blanco, told the committee that the Texas Veterans and Family Alliance program currently requires larger counties to provide a non-state funding match that places strain on providers. \"SB 8 97 as filed reduces the match requirement for larger counties from 100% to 50%. The committee substitute instead changes the grant match requirement for larger counties from a % to 75% balancing financial relief with sustainable state funding,\" Hall said. He also said a contingency rider by Senator Flores was adopted in Article 11 by the Finance Committee.

Clinical and provider witnesses told the committee the match requirement affects the availability and expansion of mental-health services for veterans. Dr. Chelsea Feduccia, speaking for MetroCare (a provider funded by the program), said MetroCare \"has been a proud recipient of TBFA funds since our first year\" and that the clinic has served thousands of veterans and family members. She described a recent case in which the clinic provided family therapy, individual care, psychiatry services and case management to a Marine veteran and family in crisis and said demand for services is growing.

Catherine Longoria, director of policy and governmental affairs at Emergence Health Network in El Paso, described a local veterans one-stop center supported by the program and told the committee the TVFA funding is essential to staffing and community programming.

Public testimony closed after the witnesses spoke; the committee left SB 897 pending for further consideration.","A committee substitute to Senate Bill 897 would lower the non-state funding match for larger counties in the Texas Veterans and Family Alliance grant program from 100% to 75%; providers told the committee that the match affects service availability and urged increased state support.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6125910,"Bill would let large Texas counties designate an executive to oversee veterans county service offices",139,946000,1085000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2674324-0f28789595fc858fe146aebc4e17a084&start=946&end=1085","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2674324-0f28789595fc858fe146aebc4e17a084/thumbnail_946000.jpg","/articles/6125910/Texas/Bill-would-let-large-Texas-counties-designate-an-executive-to-oversee-veterans-county-service-offices","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125910-b4c19c981ea843da6dd51eb1d9aad7ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149811&Signature=iDXXK1rskYfAqrP57SWDKs32nF6zTXvau7KMzYocoZeMb7Z9ii~5fEj0zDwkLm07Y9o7XP3xTv9gpDs0NveL0NDFG0MktX4WsDFF9boi0FNbqnuZESy3z38wgPOlxgRveNBN4DlfwW4sl5nx4d8bS1BuTIx83VxiV3pCbhzYGeH~thMzkM4f4--vAqtnfb~FGOrNmkKZqDSDCFhfTrweajiMd~oTPKwPURVB-yy536qMaqFGEfSYbxlfspaBXecFze0wfwmysGMnjGkcAKQeNEO6fCafRx6KtGXpR5UtZqNOWzqYVV~FWpz2N-logfa982LkJmPiSF-nqF6QYlQJpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator West told the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs that Senate Bill 651 would modernize a statutory requirement about Veterans County Service Offices in large counties. \"The code requires that the county and the county of over 200,000 or more of the commissioner's court shall maintain a Veterans County Service Office and that that office must report directly to the commissioner's court,\" Senator West said. \"What this bill does is it keeps that in place but also allows the county commissioner's court to, put in place a designee.\" A committee substitute clarified that the designee must be a county executive official rather than an unspecified county official.

Josie Casto Garcia, governmental affairs analyst with Dallas County, testified in support of the bill. She told the committee the change would be an \"operational cleanup\" that would let larger counties streamline internal management and align veteran services with other county operations already managed through an executive structure. \"SB 651 provides an upper operational cleanup by allowing these offices to report either to commissioner's court or a designated county executive,\" Garcia said.

Chairman Hancock opened public testimony, heard Garcia's remarks and then closed the hearing on SB 651; the committee left the bill pending with no committee vote recorded.

The committee did not adopt statutory language during the hearing and did not take a recorded vote; staff will carry the bill forward for further consideration.","Senate Bill 651 would allow counties with populations of 200,000 or more to have their veterans county service offices report to a designated county executive official rather than directly to the commissioners court; Dallas County backed the change in testimony.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6125915,"Texas Veterans Commission briefs Senate committee on statewide services, outreach and $44 million in grants",853,41255,895000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2674324-0f28789595fc858fe146aebc4e17a084&start=41&end=895","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2674324-0f28789595fc858fe146aebc4e17a084/thumbnail_41255.jpg","/articles/6125915/Texas/Texas-Veterans-Commission-briefs-Senate-committee-on-statewide-services-outreach-and-44-million-in-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6125915-1b78fc727461c92d949f9f55873b7db4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149811&Signature=Fc5zTrLkCbxvQoVfWcd6rBOiF-NCW-t-xftTq8vgPj3esHMn2Ahpnk~eRJCJl9c28rWOfRXqrZUQNEzLF8PBg~MSnb0aoXRaPb08kASnq-En8Pqk6m5Bdr7LS6j8LBW42X1Po7NfgiQclVQ2BkVLj0cz8VWLqItRX-ereeLfxOoDL0-FkiFVk5xIJaYjfxtH6bFwimySL0Zji1km6iJgA-6DgkR0kTJx7Tf7jEumvDRIgq6db0k2AJlnTLWoaZ4SShH5z-A65ut~bjjFdsCQju9wXdq4wHrGy8rmzaGfg8d4TA41AGqZcFpqy-rHCAnl8cv9BIRay4KNHRn9wrCb7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tom Palladino, executive director of the Texas Veterans Commission, told the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs the commission provides a range of services for veterans, their families and survivors across Texas and that those programs are authorized in the Texas Government Code. \"Our mission is to advocate for and provide superior service that will significantly improve the quality of life for all Texas veterans, their families and survivors,\" Palladino said.

The commission presented program-level details and outreach metrics to the committee. Palladino said the agency provides accredited claims representation to veterans filing disability claims and appeals with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and that the TVC operates roughly 152 claims benefit advisors across the state, co-located in VA facilities, county offices and other sites \"rent free.\" He described health-care advocates (24 staff), education oversight including the state Hazelwood benefit and a veteran education oversight role, employment services coordinated with the Texas Workforce Commission, a veteran entrepreneur program, a mental-health program that supports 66 veteran peer coordinators, a women veterans program and other initiatives.

Angela Wellner, director of communications and veteran outreach for the TVC, described the agency's outreach mix of traditional media, digital channels and in-person events and provided circulation and engagement figures. \"We do have a robust outreach using traditional media, digital media, in person outreach, and more,\" Wellner said. She listed regular activities and channels: a monthly segment with KXAN, a podcast (Voice of Texas Veterans), a monthly public TVC Q&A on Zoom, paid social campaigns and partnerships with the Texas Veterans Land Board and local partners for resource fairs. Wellner said the commission's digital properties receive substantial traffic—\"our newly redesigned TVC website, which usually gets about 90,000 unique sessions a month\"—and that the TVC newsletter reaches more than 44,000 subscribers.

Palladino described the TVC grants program and the Fund for Veteran Assistance, saying the commission awards about $44,000,000 annually to nonprofits and local governments for direct financial assistance, home renovations for disabled and low-income veterans, mental-health grants, veteran treatment courts and related programs. He noted the commission reports program data to the Legislative Budget Board and said each appropriation has performance measures tied to outputs and outcomes.

Committee members asked about performance metrics; Palladino said the commission has performance measures tied to appropriations and that he could provide last year's and the most recent quarter's data.

The committee received the briefing; no formal action was taken on the presentation.","The Texas Veterans Commission told the Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs it runs statewide claims, health-care advocacy, education oversight, employment and mental-health programs and manages a grants program that awards roughly $44 million annually to local providers and governments.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears bill to grant temporary Texas licenses for military members and spouses awaiting out-of-state letters

Sponsor outlines proposal for interagency veteran transition database; fiscal note estimated at $5 million

Committee considers reducing local match for Texas Veterans and Family Alliance grants

Bill would let large Texas counties designate an executive to oversee veterans county service offices

Texas Veterans Commission briefs Senate committee on statewide services, outreach and $44 million in grants