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UPDATE: 6/18/2023 - SB 493 was enacted. It was signed by Governor Greg Abbott on 6/18/2023, effective 6/18/2023.
UPDATE: 5/25/2023 - SB 493 was sent to Governor Greg Abbott for signature on 5/25/2023. Contact Governor Greg Abbott and ask him to sign SB 493: https://gov.texas.gov/contact.
UPDATE: 5/22/2023 - SB 493 passed the 3rd Reading in the House and was reported enrolled in Senate on 5/22/2023.
UPDATE: 5/19/2023 - SB 493 is ready for 3rd Reading in the House as of 5/19/2023.
UPDATE: 5/17/2023 - SB 493 is eligible for a floor vote starting 5/19/2023.
UPDATE: 4/27/2023 - SB 493 was reported favorably without amendments by the House Committee on Defense & Veterans' Affairs on 4/27/2023.
UPDATE: 4/27/2023 - HB 4174 passed the House Committee on Defense & Veterans' Affairs on 4/27/2023 by a vote of 7 Ayes, 1 Nay, 1 Absent.
UPDATE: 4/13/2023 - HB 4174 was left pending in the House Committee on Defense & Veterans' Affairs on 4/13/2023.
UPDATE: 4/6/2023 - HB 4174 is scheduled for a hearing in the House Committee on Defense & Veterans' Affairs on 4/13/2023 at 10:30 AM or upon final adjourn./recess or bill referral if permission granted in room E2.026 of the Capitol Extension building. See Agenda.
Provide written public testimony before the end of the hearing here – https://comments.house.texas.gov/home?c=c305
Register to present in-person testimony here – https://mytxlegis.capitol.texas.gov/HWRSPublic/About.aspx
You can watch live video/audio here - https://house.texas.gov/video-audio/
UPDATE: 3/29/2023: SB 493 was transferred to the House on 3/29/2023.
UPDATE: 3/28/2023: SB 493 was read for the Second and Third Time in the Senate. The Rules were suspended for Third Reading, on 3/28/2023. The bill passed the Senate on 3/28/2023 by vote of 28 Yes, 2 No. The bill was reported engrossed.
UPDATE: 3/21/2023 - HB 4174 was referred to the House Committee on Defense & Veterans' Affairs on 3/21/2023.
UPDATE: 3/24/2023: SB 493 is scheduled for a vote in the Full Senate on 3/27/2023.
UPDATE: 3/22/2023 - SB 493 passed the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on 3/22/2023 by a vote of 6 Yes, 1 No.
UPDATE: 3/17/2023 - SB 493 was scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on Tuesday, 3/21/2023 at 9:00 am in Room SHB 345. The Agenda is here.
HB 4174 was filed on 3/8/2023. This bill is sponsored by Representative Hefner.
SB 493 was referred to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee on 2/17/2023. This bill is sponsored by Senator Hughes.
This bill adds a new section of law that establishes for purposes of determining qualifications for any veterans benefits or services from the state, a former member of the United States armed forces who received a less than honorable discharge due to the individual ’s refusal to receive a vaccination against COVID-19 shall be considered to have received an honorable discharge.
For a discharge of a former member of the United States armed forces to be considered honorable under the new section the former member of the United States armed forces must prove to the Texas Veterans Commission that the individual ’s refusal to receive a vaccination against COVID-19 was the sole reason for the individual ’s less than honorable discharge.
https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=SB493 - text, status and history for SB 493
https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=HB4174 - text, status and history for HB 4174
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