Texas is home to more than 1.7 million veterans — and the Lone Star State backs them up with some of the most generous state-level benefits in the nation. From eliminating your entire property tax bill to 150 free college credit hours, here's what Texas veterans are entitled to in 2025.
With over 1.7 million veterans calling Texas home — roughly 8.5% of the adult population — the Lone Star State has built one of the most comprehensive state-level benefit ecosystems in the country. Texas consistently ranks among the top five most veteran-friendly states, and for good reason: when you combine the property tax exemptions, education benefits, land board loan programs, and commission services, the total value of Texas state benefits can easily exceed $100,000 over a veteran's lifetime.
These benefits are entirely separate from and stackable with federal VA benefits. A 100% permanently and totally (P&T) disabled veteran living in Texas doesn't just get federal VA compensation — they also get their entire property tax bill eliminated, access to 150 free college credit hours for themselves or their children, below-market home loans, and free lifetime hunting and fishing licenses. This guide walks through every major Texas veteran benefit program for 2025.
Texas property tax exemptions for disabled veterans are governed by Texas Tax Code Section 11.131 and represent one of the most valuable state-level financial benefits available anywhere in the country. Unlike many states that cap exemptions at a fixed dollar amount, Texas provides a complete property tax exemption for qualifying veterans — with no ceiling.
If you have a VA disability rating of 100% permanent and total (P&T) — meaning your rating is either 100% schedular with a P&T designation, or 100% via Individual Unemployability (TDIU) with a P&T designation — you qualify for a 100% property tax exemption on your primary residence.
There is no dollar cap. If your home is assessed at $450,000, you pay zero property taxes on it. In Texas, where average effective property tax rates run around 1.60% — one of the highest in the nation — this exemption is worth $7,200 per year on a $450,000 home and scales proportionally higher for more valuable properties. Over 20 years, that's over $144,000 in tax savings (before accounting for property value appreciation).
Veterans with VA ratings below 100% P&T also qualify for partial property tax exemptions under Texas Tax Code § 11.22:
Partial exemption available to veterans with service-connected ratings of 70% or higher (but not meeting P&T threshold).
Meaningful savings, especially in high-tax Texas counties where the effective rate reduces your bill by $160+ per year.
Available to veterans with moderate service-connected disability ratings as certified by the VA.
Even lower ratings qualify for meaningful property tax relief. Every eligible veteran should apply.
The surviving spouse of a veteran who qualified for the 100% P&T exemption under § 11.131 may continue to receive the full exemption as long as they: (1) have not remarried, and (2) continue to occupy the property as their primary residence. This provision ensures that a veteran's family isn't forced out of their home after the veteran's death.
Additionally, the surviving spouse of a veteran who died on active duty also qualifies for the full exemption under § 11.132, regardless of whether the veteran had a disability rating at time of death.
Pro tip: If your VA rating increases to 100% P&T, file an amended application immediately. You do not need to wait until the new tax year. Source: Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Named after State Senator T.A. Hazlewood and originally enacted in 1923, the Hazlewood Act provides one of the most generous state education benefits in the country. Eligible Texas veterans receive up to 150 credit hours of free tuition at any Texas public institution of higher education — including universities, community colleges, and technical schools.
To qualify for Hazlewood Act benefits, a veteran must meet all of the following:
Note: There is no disability rating requirement for the Hazlewood Act. All honorably discharged Texas veterans who meet the residency requirement qualify, regardless of VA disability status.
The Hazlewood Act covers tuition and required fees only. It does not cover:
The 150-hour cap is per veteran — not per semester. It's a lifetime bank. If you use 60 hours in one school and transfer to another, you have 90 remaining. Monitor your usage carefully through the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) system, which tracks usage statewide.
One of the Hazlewood Act's most powerful provisions is the Legacy option. Veterans who have exhausted their own hours, or who choose to do so, can transfer remaining hours to a dependent child. The child must:
The veteran must be living and must formally designate the child for the Legacy benefit through the THECB. Each child gets up to 150 hours (subject to the veteran's remaining balance). Multiple children can share hours if the veteran has not exhausted the full 150.
Here's where the Hazlewood Act becomes extraordinarily valuable: it stacks with the federal Post-9/11 GI Bill. The optimal strategy for eligible veterans is:
This combination means a Texas veteran attending a state university can effectively attend school at no out-of-pocket cost while receiving a substantial monthly housing stipend. Source: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB), 2025
A higher VA disability rating unlocks bigger property tax exemptions and more financial security. See what your rating should be — in minutes.
Start Your Free Claim Review →The Texas Veterans Land Board (VLB), established in 1946, is one of the oldest and most active state veterans agencies in the country. The VLB offers three major loan programs exclusively for Texas veterans, providing access to below-market financing for land, homes, and home improvements.
The VLB Land Loan allows Texas veterans to purchase raw land anywhere in Texas at below-market interest rates. Key terms for 2025:
This program is particularly valuable in Texas, where rural land acquisition is a common goal for many veterans. The reduced rate and favorable terms can save tens of thousands over the life of the loan.
The VLB Home Loan Program provides below-market mortgage financing for Texas veterans purchasing a primary residence. This program stacks with federal VA loan benefits:
Need to repair or improve your home? The VLB Home Improvement Loan offers:
The VLB operates 8 Texas State Veterans Homes across the state — in Amarillo, Big Spring, Bonham, El Paso, Floresville, McAllen, Temple, and Tyler. These are skilled nursing facilities that provide quality long-term care to eligible veterans at rates significantly below private nursing home costs. The per-diem rate is set by the state and is partially subsidized by federal VA funds, making these facilities far more affordable than comparable private-pay options.
Eligibility requires: veteran status, Texas residency, and medical necessity for nursing-level care. Spouses and Gold Star parents may also be eligible at some facilities.
The VLB operates 8 Texas State Veterans Cemeteries throughout the state, providing free burial for eligible veterans and certain family members. Unlike national VA cemeteries, the state cemeteries are conveniently located in regions across Texas, minimizing distance for families. Eligibility follows federal VA cemetery criteria.
The Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) is the state agency dedicated to serving Texas veterans through advocacy, claims assistance, employment services, and direct support programs. TVC services are free for all Texas veterans and their families.
TVC maintains claims agents at 90+ locations statewide — one of the densest networks of free claims assistance in any state. TVC claims representatives are VA-accredited and can help veterans:
TVC claims agents are free — they never charge a fee. Find your nearest TVC office at tvc.texas.gov.
The TVC Mental Health Program provides free counseling services to Texas veterans who may not qualify for or choose not to access VA mental health care. Services include:
Sessions are provided by licensed mental health professionals at TVC offices and community partner locations across Texas.
TVC partners with the Texas Workforce Commission to provide veteran-priority employment services, including:
The FVA is a TVC-administered grant program that funds nonprofit organizations providing direct services to Texas veterans and their families. While veterans apply through the nonprofits rather than directly to TVC, this program funds emergency financial assistance, legal aid, transportation, and other critical support services available at the community level statewide.
Beyond the major programs, Texas offers a range of smaller but still meaningful benefits for veterans:
Texas veterans with a 50% or greater service-connected disability rating receive a free lifetime combination hunting and fishing license from Texas Parks and Wildlife. This license (retail value: $1,800+) covers freshwater and saltwater fishing and all legal hunting statewide.
Veterans with a 100% P&T service-connected disability rating receive free motor vehicle registration for one vehicle. The vehicle must be used primarily for personal transportation. Apply through your county tax assessor-collector.
Children of 100% P&T disabled veterans may qualify for tuition waivers at certain Texas public universities — separate from the Hazlewood Legacy benefit. Check directly with individual institutions, as eligibility and scope varies by school.
Texas offers numerous specialty veteran and disabled veteran license plates, some with reduced registration fees. Disabled veteran plates for 100% P&T veterans are available at no charge and provide additional parking privileges.
The key to maximizing Texas veteran benefits is understanding the interaction between federal VA benefits and state programs — and pursuing both simultaneously. Here's a strategic approach:
The exemption applies to your primary residence only. It does not cover investment properties, vacation homes, or land that isn't your principal place of residence. If you own additional properties, they are taxed normally — but the primary residence exemption has no dollar cap, making it extremely valuable regardless of your home's value.
No. The Hazlewood Act requires an honorable or general (under honorable conditions) discharge. Veterans with other than honorable or dishonorable discharges do not qualify. However, if you have received a discharge upgrade through the Discharge Review Board or BCMR, you may then become eligible.
VLB programs require that you be a Texas veteran — meaning you either enlisted as a Texas resident, have established Texas as your domicile, or are currently stationed in Texas. Non-resident veterans cannot use VLB programs.
File a Hazlewood Legacy designation with the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) at least 30 days before your child's intended enrollment. Your child then applies at the school using your THECB-issued Legacy authorization. The veteran must remain living at the time of each semester's usage.
Yes. The Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) is a state agency, entirely separate from the federal Department of Veterans Affairs. TVC claims agents can help you navigate federal VA processes, but they do not make VA decisions. TVC programs (like the mental health program and employment services) are state-funded and do not affect your federal VA benefits.
Ready to make sure your VA disability rating reflects your true level of impairment? Use the claim.vet rating calculator or check out our state benefits tool to compare Texas benefits with other states. When you're ready to file, start your claim review — it's free.