New laws enacted to help Texas veterans – Washington Examiner
New laws have been enacted in Texas to support veterans by reducing regulations and simplifying access to resources. Governor Greg Abbott emphasized texas’s commitment to honoring veterans, noting the state’s large veteran population and the growing number of jobs created by veteran-owned businesses. At a Combat Marine Outdoors Gala,abbott signed several bills into law that enhance support for veterans. These include funding for research on ibogaine for addiction treatment, creation of an electronic database for transitioning service members to connect them with resources, expedited issuance of provisional licenses recognizing out-of-state licenses for military personnel and spouses, and consolidation of veteran programs under the Texas Veterans Commission. The gala was attended by state officials and veterans, highlighting ongoing efforts such as the Combat Marine Outdoors nonprofit, which organizes outdoor activities to aid recovery and reintegration for wounded service members. these legislative measures aim to improve the well-being and opportunities available to texas veterans.
New laws enacted to help Texas veterans
(The Center Square) – New laws have been enacted this year to help Texas veterans by reducing and streamlining regulations and simplifying access to resources available to them.
“Texas is home to more veterans than any other state,” Gov. Greg Abbott said at a veterans event in Houston. “We owe every member who serves our country the deepest appreciation that we have. America would not be America, we would not be the freest and strongest, most powerful country in the history of the world if it weren’t for these soldiers willing to stand up and do the things they are doing. Texas will forever honor the service and sacrifice of those who served the United States of America.”
The governor spoke at a Combat Marine Outdoors Gala and was joined by Acting Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts Kelly Hancock, state Reps. Charles Cunningham, Morgan Meyer and Dennis Paul, United States Marine Corps Ret. Colonel and CMO Co-Founder and President Alan Orr, USMC Ret. Master Gunnery Sergeant and CMO Co-Founder and CEO Arturo Garcia, and other state and local officials.
During his remarks, Abbott described how Texas is the best state for jobs created by veteran-owned businesses, with veteran-owned businesses more than doubling the amount of jobs they’ve created since 2022.
At the gala, the governor ceremonially signed bills that he previously signed into law and met with veterans and their family members.
SB 2308 provides matching grant funding for research of ibogaine, an emerging treatment for neurological and mental health conditions. The drug has shown promise in treating opioid addiction and other behavioral health conditions, especially for those affecting veterans.
State Sen. Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, and state Rep. Cody Harris, R-Tyler, filed the bill, which passed nearly unanimously in both chambers. It became effective June 11.
SB 1814 filed by then state Sen. Kelly Hancock and state Rep. Cole Hefner, R-Mount Pleasant, directs the Texas Veterans Commission to establish and maintain an electronic database of contact information for service members leaving active duty who give consent. The database allows state agencies and veteran organizations to access the information in order to provide them with information about available resources. It passed unanimously in both chambers and becomes effective Sept. 1.
SB 1818 filed by Hancock and Rep. John McQueeney, R-Fort Worth, requires Texas licensing agencies to immediately issue a provisional license recognizing the out-of-state licenses of military service members, veterans, and military spouses. It passed unanimously and becomes effective Sept. 1.
HB 114, filed by Rep. Phillip Cortez, D-San Antonio, and Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, consolidates the responsibility of several veteran-related programs from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to the Texas Veterans Commission. It passed unanimously and becomes effective Sept. 1.
CMO founders launched an outreach initiative in 2005 after visiting Marines and sailors who were wounded in combat from the 1st Marine Division who were being treated at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. In 2009, Houston-based CMO received its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
Its founders realized that service members receiving medical treatment “needed an opportunity to get away from the hospital, in an environment of friendship, camaraderie, and fellowship with fellow Marines to accelerate their recovery from the traumatic injuries they sustained in combat,” the organization explains. “Many times, these service members did not want to leave the confines of the hospital, but it was (and is) crucial to begin to re-inculcate back into society.”
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CMO arranges outings, activities and adventures in the outdoors to help them have “a new sense of hope and belonging.” There are roughly 100 ranches that are partnering with CMO.
“The camaraderie, friendship and fellowship associated with each outing have had an incredible healing property, and many times, were a turning point in the emotional recovery of these service members,” CMO explains. So far, it’s taken more than 10,000 combat veterans “on the adventure of a lifetime.”
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