The bill amends the Local Government Code and the Occupations Code to allow legal permanent residents of the United States to be appointed or employed in positions that require licensure by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. Specifically, it removes the previous requirement that such individuals must be honorably discharged veterans with at least two years of service. Instead, the bill stipulates that legal permanent residents must hold the appropriate license and submit an affidavit affirming their intent to apply for U.S. citizenship within six months of eligibility.

Additionally, the bill modifies the hiring process for law enforcement agencies by requiring them to obtain proof of legal permanent residency and the aforementioned affidavit from applicants. The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement is tasked with amending its rules to comply with these changes by December 1, 2025, and the new hiring provisions will only apply to hires made on or after that date. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Occupations Code 1701.3095, Occupations Code 1701.451 (Occupations Code 1701)