Texas Veterans County Service Offices

Government Code section 434.032(a) requires the commissioners court of a county with a population of 200,000 or more to maintain a veterans county service office that is separate and distinct from other county offices, has at least one full-time employee, and reports directly to the commissioners court or, since Senate Bill 651 of 2025 took effect on September 1, 2025, to a designated county executive official. A smaller county may keep one by majority vote if the commissioners court finds it a public necessity. Under section 434.033 the officer must be qualified by education and training and experienced in VA law and rulings, and in appointing officers the commissioners court must give preference to veterans who qualify under the chapter 657 employment preference. Under section 434.035 the officer must help any county resident who served in the armed forces or nurse corps, and any orphan or dependent, prepare, submit and present a claim against the United States or the State. Section 434.036 forbids the officer to charge a fee, or to let an applicant pay a third person for the officer's services, and to steer a power of attorney to one national service organization over another. The county pages in this catalog give each county's office.