Executive Summary of TCVO Top Priority Veteran Related Bills

John A Miterko -- Veterans Advocate Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas 1.  Hazlewood Education Act: two bills (SB 1735: Birdwell; HB 3572: Zerwas) are targeting to significantly change the eligibility for access to Hazlewood limit the time that the benefits can be used and significantly reduce the credit hours for degree completion. TCVO member organizations have been requested to forward an email to their grassroots members requesting them to contact their State Representatives and House top leadership advising their elected officials that TCVO as well as individual veterans are OPPOSED to HB 3572 and SB 1735. HB 3572 was not heard in the House by midnight 5/14/15 and is dead for the 84^th Legislature.  SB 1735 has passed the Senate and has until 5/26/15 to be heard in the House.  TCVO leadership will be asked to send a message to their grassroots members to contact members of the House Calendars Committee and ask them NOT TO SET SB 1735 ON THE HOUSE CALENDAR.

2.  Property Tax Relief for Veterans Disabled Less Than 100: HB 683 (Rep Sheets) proposes to change the set dollar amounts for four levels of VA disability ratings to a percentage figure.  The proposed figures would be used to determine the annual property tax exemption dollar reduction when compared to the average appraised value of a principal residence in Texas.  HB 683 was placed on the 5/13/15 General State Calendar but was not heard in the House by midnight 5/14/2015 and is dead for the 84^th Legislature.
3.  Surviving Spouse Ad Valorem Taxation: an exemption from property tax for the total appraised value of the principal residence/homestead of the surviving spouse of a 100 or totally disabled veteran regardless of when the veteran died and conditional that the spouse has not remarried.  HB 992 has passed the House and was sent to the Senate where it was scheduled for public hearing 5/14/15.  Reported favorably without amendments printed & distributed on 5/14/15.  The next step is for the Bill to be scheduled for Senate floor debate and vote possibly during the week of 5/18/2015.
4.  Military Absentee Voting (MOVE Act implementation):  SB 1115 (Senator Campbell):  if military ballots go out late by any time frame the grace period beginning on Election Day will grant up to eight additional days to allow military voters extra time to return the absentee ballot to the local election clerks office.  SB 1115 passed the Senate on 4/30/15 has been sent to the House considered in formal meeting and reported favorably out of Committee and filed on 5/8/15 and sent to Calendars on 5/11/15.  The next step is to have SB1115 placed on the House floor calendar for debate and vote during the upcoming week.
5.  Veterans Preference and Employment:  legislation requiring State agencies to increase the number of Veterans they hire to a 7 hiring rate.  SB 805 (Campbell) passed the Senate on 3/30/15.  SB 805 Committee Substitute was considered in a formal Economic & Small Business Development Committee hearing on 5/6/15 and placed on the 5/8/15 House General State Calendar.  5/11/15: read 2^nd and 3^rd times; passed as amended.  5/13/15: Senate: passage in the House as amended reported.  SB 805 will be sent to Governor Abbott for his action.
6.  Mesothelioma Trust Fund:  legislation that deals with Law Firms that file lawsuits against the Mesothelioma Trust Fund on behalf of Veterans.  Currently close to 30 of the money awarded goes to Law Firms unnecessarily since the class action lawsuit has already been decided in favor of Veterans and their families.  Bill wording needs to make clear that the Veteran or his/her family received the trust fund awards without going through a Law Firm.  Bill filed: HB 1492 filed by D. Miller: placed on 5/8/15 General State Calendar passed to engrossment as amended read 3^rd time and passed the House.   5/12/15:  received in the Senate read 1^st time referred to State Affairs.