BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2543

By: Hancock

Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

According to fiscal year 2023 data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Texas has a veteran population of approximately 1.5 million. The bill sponsor has informed the committee that the state's veteran population continues to grow and there is increasing demand to establish additional state veterans cemeteries. S.B. 2543 seeks to ensure every veteran has reasonable access to a state cemetery and allow more families to honor their loved ones by removing the limit on the number of locations that may be selected for state veterans cemeteries and by removing the cap on spending from certain funds for the management of state veterans cemeteries.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 2543 amends the Natural Resources Code to specify that the duties of the Veterans' Land Board (VLB), the chairman of the Texas Veterans Commission, and selected representatives of the veterans community relating to veterans cemeteries apply with respect to state veterans cemeteries that are funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill removes the limit on the number of locations across Texas that may be selected by the VLB, chairman, and representatives for such state veterans cemeteries. The bill also removes the $7 million cap on the amount the VLB may spend each fiscal year from funds available in the veterans' land fund, the veterans' housing assistance fund, and the veterans' housing assistance fund II to plan and design, operate, maintain, enlarge, or improve state veterans cemeteries.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.