The Senate Committee on Veteran Affairs convened on May 15, 2025, to discuss several key pieces of legislation aimed at addressing the needs of Texas veterans. The meeting began with the introduction of House Bill 1875, presented by Representative Lopez and sponsored in the Senate by Senator Sarah Flores. This bill seeks to address the limited availability of veterans' cemeteries in Texas, which forces families to travel long distances to visit the graves of their loved ones. The proposed legislation mandates the General Land Office and the Texas Veterans Commission to conduct a study evaluating veterans' burial needs, access to nearby cemeteries, and operational requirements for these facilities. After a brief discussion, public testimony was opened but no individuals chose to speak, leading to the bill being left pending for further consideration.

Next on the agenda was House Bill 39, also introduced by Representative Lopez and sponsored by Senator Parker. This bill requires the Texas Department of State Health Services to provide the Texas Veterans Commission with de-identified information from death certificates for veterans whose deaths are attributed to suicide or homicide. The data collected would include the manner of death, age, race, and occupation of the deceased. During the public testimony segment, Mitch Fuller, legislative director for the Texas VFW, expressed strong support for the bill, emphasizing the importance of understanding veteran suicide statistics. Following this, the committee closed public testimony and left the bill pending.

The final item discussed was House Bill 1894, introduced by Representative Metcalf and sponsored by Senator Parker. This legislation aims to amend current law to designate November as Veterans Month in Texas. After a brief explanation by Senator Menendez, public testimony was again opened but no comments were made, resulting in the bill being left pending as well.

The meeting concluded with the committee members preparing to gather for a vote on the discussed bills, highlighting ongoing efforts to improve the lives of veterans in Texas.