By: Lopez of Bexar, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Parker) H.B. No. 39

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 15, 2025; April 16, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Veteran Affairs; May 19, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 19, 2025, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 39 By: Parker

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to information and data regarding the incidence of veteran deaths in this state.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 193.006, Health and Safety Code, is amended by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:

(d) When the death certificate of a person to which this section applies is filed with the vital statistics unit, the department [state registrar] shall submit to [notify] the Texas Veterans Commission deidentified information on the person's:

(1) manner of death, only if the death was by suicide or homicide;

(2) age;

(3) race;

(4) previous use of psychotropic drugs, only if that information is reasonably available to the department;

(5) sex; and

(6) occupation.

(e) Not later than December 1 of each year, the Texas Veterans Commission shall prepare and submit to the standing committees of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over veterans affairs and publish on the commission's Internet website a written report that contains:

(1) aggregated data based on the information the commission receives under Subsection (d) for the preceding year;

(2) an evaluation of that data; and

(3) any recommendations for legislative or other action.

SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2027, the Texas Veterans Commission shall prepare and submit the initial report required by Section 193.006(e), Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

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