The bill, S.B. No. 536, amends the Government Code to expand the eligibility criteria for the Homes for Texas Heroes home loan program to include nurses alongside other professions such as fire fighters, corrections officers, and veterans. Specifically, it adds "nurse" to the definition of "Home" and establishes a clear definition of "nurse" as an individual licensed under Chapter 301 of the Occupations Code, excluding advanced practice registered nurses. The bill also modifies various sections to ensure that nurses are recognized as eligible applicants for low-interest home mortgage loans, alongside other specified professions.

Additionally, the bill outlines the requirements for loan eligibility, which include being a resident of Texas and having an income not exceeding 115 percent of the area median family income. It allows the corporation to contract with other agencies to verify applicants' qualifications and mandates the board of directors to adopt rules for program administration. The bill ensures that funding for these loans can come from proceeds of bonds or notes issued under the home loan program, regardless of any changes to eligibility standards. The act is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 2306.5621, Government Code 301.152 (Government Code 2306, Government Code 301)