AUSTIN – Today, on Veterans Day, Governor Greg Abbott officially filed for reelection at the American Legion Charles Johnson House in Austin, Texas by submitting over 6,000 signed petitions to Texas Republican Party Chairman Dickey. This marks the first time in the state’s modern Republican primary history that a gubernatorial candidate collected enough signatures to file through petition.
The Governor, introduced by his brother, Bud Abbott, who served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years, used the opportunity to unveil his “Front of the Line” policy proposal that seeks to create greater economic opportunity, improve access to healthcare, and provide proper mental health treatments for veterans in Texas. An overview of the Governor’s new policy can be found below, and the full policy paper can be viewed here.
“When I launched my reelection campaign this summer I made a promise to elevate Texas to even greater heights,” said Governor Abbott. “I promised to strengthen our education system, crack down on gangs and violent crime and grow our economy and create more jobs. And I also promised to do more to empower our veterans, whether they are returning to the workforce after their service, looking to become an entrepreneur and start a business, or trying to get access to the healthcare they need. The plan I am unveiling today will help me keep that promise as I officially file for reelection as Governor of the great State of Texas.”
Front of the Line Policy Proposal Overview
The Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF) Veteran Incentive Program
Each TEF grant dispensed by the Office of the Governor carries with it job creation requirements that must be met by the entity receiving the grant. This policy paper proposes that veteran hires count for 1.2 weighted credits towards hiring numbers of any economic development program with a job creation provision, thus incentivizing businesses to hire the men and women who have been honorably discharged from the United States Military.
Veteran Hiring
In an effort to incentivize businesses to hire veterans, Governor Abbott is proposing that a local option be provided to businesses owners for a commercial property tax exemption for each newly hired full-time veteran. This option would qualify the owner of a commercial property for a $15,000 reduction on the appraised taxable value of their commercial property; not to exceed $300,000 per property or 20% of the commercial property’s total assessed taxable value, whichever is less. The exemption would be adopted locally by either the taxing unit’s governing body, or by the citizens of the taxing unit by petition and election.
Veteran Entrepreneurs
Governor Abbott is proposing that a local option exemption of up to $30,000 in tax relief be provided to assist veteran entrepreneurs in starting a business. This option will allow veteran entrepreneurs to have their first $30,000 of business income-producing personal property be exempt from taxation if the local governing entity chooses to participate in this program.
Reducing Licensing Requirement for Veteran and Military Spouses
Governor Abbott proposes that Texas law be amended to ensure that any military spouse or veteran’s spouse who held the same or equivalent position in the armed forces or a licensed position in another jurisdiction would be exempt from state and local licensing requirements. This would also extend license fee and registration waivers to military and veteran spouses at the local level.
Veteran Empowerment
Governor Abbott proposes incentivizing “Adopt-a-Veteran” programs that provide at least $5,000 in free or reduced cost services to veterans by providing a local option commercial property tax deduction of $15,000 per veteran hired from the appraised value, with a maximum property tax deduction of up to $300,000 in value.
Governor Abbott is also challenging veteran organizations and other non-profits to end veteran homelessness in Texas by partnering with the Texas Veterans Commission.
Expanding Veteran Healthcare Options
The Texas Veterans Commission is continuing to combat the VA backlog and Governor Abbott supports continuing to fully fund that effort with an increase of $6.5 million per biennium. The Governor will continue to press Congress and the Trump administration to allow Texas to support and cultivate a Texas model of caring for veterans that allows veterans to use federal VA benefits to visit a private health provider. The Rio Grande Valley, with its insufficient traditional VA medical infrastructure, will particularly benefit and could now lead the nation if Congress authorizes more funding for increased use of private care. Governor Abbott will urge the VA to make the RGV the location of a pilot program expanding these options. The Governor is also proposing that Texas amend the current health state licensing requirements to allow for, at a minimum, telemedicine counseling across state lines.
Legal Services for Veterans
The State of Texas currently provides legal services to veterans to the tune of $1.5 million per year. Governor Abbott is proposing the state double that funding to $3 million per year. Governor Abbott is also proposing that the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) develop a plan that incentivizes state-employed attorneys to offer pro bono services to veterans by rewarding them with Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credit and bar fee waivers.