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Veterans

Find information on key laws and resources for veterans with disabilities living in Texas. This page provides information on both resources and contacts that can help when looking for veteran services in the state. Additionally, this page includes a summary of laws by topic that may impact veterans with disabilities. This section is not intended to be used for legal advice.

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Property Tax Exemptions for Veterans with Disabilities

100 Percent Disabled Veteran Property Tax Exemption (Texas Tax Code, Section 11.131)
Tax Exemptions for Disabled Veterans (Texas Tax Code, Section 11.22)

Property tax homestead exemptions are available for Veterans with Disabilities. A veteran rated with a total disability of 100 percent is entitled to an exemption of property taxes for the total value of their residential homestead. This exemption may be extended to the surviving spouse if the spouse does not remarry and stays in the homestead when the veteran with a disability died.

Veterans with disabilities are entitled to an exemption from taxation of $12,000 of the assessed value of a property the veteran owns and designates as a homestead exemption if they are 65 years of age and has a disability rating of at least 10 percent, is totally blind in one or both eyes, or has lost the use of one or more limbs.

Veterans with partial disabilities may be eligible for additional tax exemptions depending on their disability rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Fees for Driver License or Identification Card

(Texas Transportation Code, Section 521.426)

Fees for a Texas driver license or identification card can be waived by the Texas Department of Public Safety if the veteran:

  • was honorably discharged;
  • has a service-related disability of at least 60 percent; and
  • receives compensation because of the disability.

The fee exemption does not apply to veterans who are on the registry of sex offenders.

Veteran License Plates and Vehicle Registration

Disability Parking Plates and Placards (Texas Transportation Code, Section 504-201)
Veteran Fee Exemptions (Texas Transportation Code, Section 504.202)

A veteran with a mobility disability may request to add the international symbol of access to their license plates and/or separate placard(s) to be eligible to park in accessible (handicapped) parking spaces if the veteran:

  • has a limb, hand, or foot amputated;
  • uses a wheelchair; or
  • has a statement from a physician certifying that the applicant is legally blind or has a mobility problem that substantially impairs the person's ability to ambulate. This statement must certify whether the problem is temporary or permanent.

A veteran may register one vehicle for Veteran with Disabilities specialty license plates with most fees waived except for the cost of the license plates. This includes fees for the addition of the international symbol of access. Registration under this provision is valid for one year. The fee exemption only applies if:

  • the veteran has suffered, as a result of military service:
    • at least a 50 percent service-connected disability; or
    • a 40 percent service-connected disability because of the amputation of a lower extremity;
  • the person receives compensation because of the disability; and
  • the motor vehicle:
    • is owned by the person; and
    • has a gross vehicle weight of 18,000 pounds or less or is a motor home.

An organization may register a motor vehicle and receive this exemption if:

  • the vehicle is used exclusively to transport U.S. veterans who have suffered, as a result of military service, a service-connected disability and the veterans are not charged for the transportation; or
  • the organization has a statement from that the vehicle is used exclusively to transport veterans without charge from the Veterans County Service Officer of the county intended for registration, or by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Veteran with Disabilities specialty license plates issued must include:

  • the letters "DV" on the plate if the plate is issued for a vehicle other than a motorcycle; 
  • the words "Disabled Veteran" and "U.S. Armed Forces" at the bottom of each license plate; and
  • (optional) the emblem of the veteran's branch of service or one emblem from another license plate to which the person is entitled.
  • (optional) the international symbol of access if the disability criteria are met. Without the international symbol of access, this specialty plate is not eligible for accessible (handicapped) parking.

The annual fee for the first set of license plates is $3. There is no fee for each additional set of license plates.

Texas Veterans Commission Services

(Texas Government Code, Section 434.007)

The Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) is responsible for:

  • compiling laws that have been enacted to benefit members of the armed forces, veterans, and families/dependents;
  • collecting information relating to services and facilities for veterans;
  • cooperating with veteran service agencies in the state;
  • informing current armed forces members and veterans, including stakeholders, about the existence and availability of:
    • educational training and retraining facilities;
    • health, medical, rehabilitation, and housing services and facilities;
    • employment and reemployment services;
    • laws that afford rights, privileges, and benefits to current armed forces members, veterans, and their dependents; and
    • any other related matters.
  • assisting veterans and their families and dependents in presenting, proving, and establishing claims, privileges, rights, and benefits they may have under law.
  • cooperating with all government and private agencies securing services or benefits to veterans and their dependents;
  • investigating and correcting abuses or exploitation of veterans or their dependents, and recommending necessary legislation for full correction;
  • coordinating the services and activities of state departments and divisions having services and resources affecting veterans or their families or dependents;
  • providing training and certification of Veterans County Service Officers and Assistant Veterans County Service Officers;
  • collecting and maintaining the number of service members and veterans living in each county and publishing this information on the commission's website annually;
  • informing and assisting veterans and their dependents with discovering and initiating claims for unclaimed property held by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs;
  • evaluating priorities for each program administered by TVC to meet the changing needs of veterans in Texas on an annual basis;
  • setting goals for staff and measuring staff performance; and
  • establishing success measures and corresponding targets for each program administered by TVC and progress in meeting them through annual internal reports and TVC's strategic plan.

Veterans County Service Offices

(Texas Government Code, Section 434.032)

All counties with a population of 200,000 or more must maintain a Veterans County Service Office that is:

  • separate and distinct from other county offices;
  • staffed by at least one full-time employee; and
  • reporting directly to the commissioners court or a designated county executive official.

In counties that have a population of less than 200,000, the commissioners court may maintain and operate a Veterans County Service Office if the commissioners court determines that the office is a public necessity to enable county residents who are veterans to promptly, properly, and rightfully obtain benefits to which they are entitled. This would require a majority vote of the full membership of the commissioners court.

Veteran Entrepreneur Program

(Texas Government Code, Section 434.022)

The Veteran Entrepreneur Program is operated by the Texas Veterans Commission to foster and promote veteran entrepreneurship and business ownership.

The program provides assistance to veteran entrepreneurs and business owners by:

  • bringing awareness to veteran entrepreneurs and business owners of federal and state benefits and services available to those veterans;
  • assessing the need for benefits and services among veteran entrepreneurs and business owners;
  • reviewing and researching programs, projects, and initiatives designed to address the needs of veteran entrepreneurs and business owners;
  • evaluating the effectiveness of the commission's efforts to assist veteran entrepreneurs and business owners and making appropriate recommendations to the executive director to improve services and assistance provided;
  • incorporating issues concerning veteran entrepreneurs and business owners into the commission's plans for assisting veterans in securing benefits and services;
  • advocating for veteran entrepreneurs and working to increase public awareness about the needs of veteran entrepreneurs and business owners;
  • recommending legislative initiatives and policies at the local, state, and national levels to address the issues affecting veteran entrepreneurship and business ownership;
  • collaborating with federal, state, and private agencies that provide services to veteran entrepreneurs and business owners to allow the veterans to make use of those services;
  • providing information about opportunities for veteran entrepreneurs and business owners in the commission's collaborative network of businesses and organizations;
  • monitoring and researching issues affecting the interests of veteran entrepreneurs and business owners;
  • providing information about opportunities for veteran entrepreneurs and business owners in the commission's collaborative network of businesses and organizations;
  • providing guidance to veteran entrepreneurs and business owners through conferences, seminars, and training workshops with federal, state, and private agencies; and
  • promoting events and activities that recognize or honor veteran entrepreneurs and business owners.

To ensure the availability of listed services, the executive director can establish regional coordinators in major centers of economic growth to provide these services.

Home and Land Loan Programs

Veteran Housing Assistance Program (Texas Natural Resource Code, Chapter 162)
Veteran Financial Assistance Program (Texas Natural Resource Code, Chapter 164)

The Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB) provides low-interest loans to Veterans and Military Members in Texas.

  • Land Loans: The VLB gives Texas Veterans and Military Members the opportunity to borrow money to purchase land at favorable terms while only requiring a minimum 5% down payment.
  • Home Loans: The VLB Veterans Housing Assistance Program assists Texas Veterans and Military Members in purchasing a home. Through this program, eligible Texas Veterans and Military Members have an opportunity to purchase a home with a loan with favorable terms with little or no down payment.
  • Home Improvement Loans: The VLB can help a Veteran or Military Member buy a home, then help improve it through the Texas Veterans Home Improvement Program (VHIP). This program helps provide below-market interest rate loans to qualified Texas Veterans and Military Members for home repairs and improvements to their existing homes.
  • SCRA Assistance: Reservists and National Guard troops with a VLB Land, Home or Home Improvement Loan may be able to defer interest payments when called up for active duty.

Course Credit for Military Service

(Texas Education Code, Section 51.3042)

An institution of higher education will award to an undergraduate student course credit for all physical education courses required by the institution for an undergraduate degree and for additional semester credit hours that can be applied to satisfy any elective course requirements for the student's degree program for courses outside the student's major or minor if the student:

  • graduated from a public or private high school accredited by a generally recognized accrediting organization or from a high school operated by the United States Department of Defense; and
  • is an honorably discharged former member of the armed forces of the United States who:
    • completed at least two years of service in the armed forces; or
    • was discharged because of a disability.
  • The institution of higher education may also award additional course credit for a student's military service as the institution considers appropriate.

Contacts

Resources

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