BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 3359
89R5652 JDK-D	By: Garcia, Josey (Blanco)
	Veteran Affairs
	5/22/2025
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

H.B. 3359 amends current law relating to identifying an individual with veteran's status and providing notice to the Texas Veterans Commission.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Sections 13.004(c) and (d), Election Code, as follows:

(c) Provides that certain information furnished on a voter registration application is confidential and does not constitute public information for purposes of Chapter 552 (Public Information), Government Code, including the applicant's status as a veteran. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

(d) Prohibits the voter registrar or other county official who has access to the information furnished on a registration application from posting certain information on a website, including an applicant's status as a veteran. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 13.071, Election Code, by adding Subsections (c) and (d), as follows:

(c) Requires the registrar to compile a list of each submitted application for registration that indicates the applicant served in the United States armed forces, including their reserve components, an auxiliary service of one of the branches of the armed forces, or the state military forces as defined by Section 431.001 (Definitions), Government Code. Requires that the list include each applicant's residence address and, if provided by the applicant, telephone number.

(d) Requires the secretary of state to adopt procedures for the transmission of information collected under Subsection (c) to the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC).

SECTION 3. Amends Section 13.122, Election Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (d), as follows:

(a) Requires that each official form, in addition to the other statements and spaces for entering information that appear on an officially prescribed registration application form, include certain elements, including a space or box for indicating whether the applicant served in the United States armed forces, including their reserve components, an auxiliary service of one of the branches of the armed forces, or the state military forces as defined by Section 431.001, Government Code, and a statement acknowledging that providing this information is optional and this information will remain confidential and will be used only to print a designation on the voter registration certificate and to provide notification of the applicant's veteran status to TVC, which may contact the applicant to connect the applicant with available services. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

(d) Provides that the information furnished by an applicant under Subsection (a)(14) (relating to a space or box for indicating whether the applicant served in the United States armed forces including certain information) is authorized to only be used for the purpose described by Sections 13.071(c) and (d) or Section 15.001(a) (relating to requiring that each voter registration certificate issued contain certain information).

SECTION 4. Amends Section 15.001(a), Election Code, to require that each voter registration certificate issued contain certain information, including an indication that the voter is a "veteran," if the voter stated on the voter's registration application that the voter served in the United States armed forces, including their reserve components, an auxiliary service of one of the branches of the armed forces, or the state military forces as defined by Section 431.001, Government Code, and to make nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 5. Amends Section 18.066(b), Election Code, to prohibit information furnished under Section 18.066 (Availability of Statewide Computerized Voter Registration List Information) from including certain information, including the voter's status as a veteran, if the voter stated on the voter's registration application that the voter served in the United States armed forces, including their reserve components, an auxiliary service of one of the branches of the armed forces, or the state military forces as defined by Section 431.001, Government Code, and to make nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 6. Amends Section 521.011, Transportation Code, as follows:

Sec. 521.011. SERVICES INFORMATION FOR VETERANS. (a) Creates this section from existing text. Defines "veteran." Deletes existing text requiring the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas (DPS) and TVC to jointly develop a one-page informational paper about veterans services provided by this state for veterans who receive certain documents

(b) Requires DPS to provide to each applicant for an original, renewal, corrected, or duplicate driver's license or personal identification certificate the opportunity to voluntarily indicate for the purposes of this section that the person is a veteran. Requires DPS to acknowledge that:

(1) providing this information is optional; and

(2) this information will remain confidential and will be used only to provide the applicant with a one-page informational paper about veterans services provided by this state and provide notification of the applicant's veteran status to TVC, which is authorized to contact the applicant to connect the applicant with available services.

(c) Requires DPS and TVC to jointly develop a process to enable DPS to share with TVC a person's name, veteran status, and residence address received under Subsection (b). Authorizes TVC to contact the person to connect the person with veterans services provided by this state. Provides that information received by DPS and TVC under this section is confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.

(d) Requires DPS and TVC to jointly develop a one-page informational paper about veterans services provided by this state and provide the informational paper to each person who voluntarily indicates to DPS under Subsection (b) that the person is a veteran.

SECTION 7. Repealers: Sections 521.102(c) (relating to requiring DPS to provide to the recipient of a personal identification certificate with a certain designation a certain informational paper) and 521.1235(c) (relating to requiring DPS to provide to the recipient of a driver's license with a certain designation a certain informational paper), Transportation Code.

SECTION 8. Makes application of the change in law made by this Act to Section 13.122(a), Election Code, prospective.

SECTION 9. Makes application of Section 521.011, Transportation Code, as amended by this Act, prospective.

SECTION 10. Effective date: September 1, 2025.