H.B. No. 1630 amends the Government Code to expand the eligibility criteria for the Homes for Texas Heroes home loan program to include social workers. Specifically, the bill adds "social worker" to the definitions of eligible professions in Section 2306.5621(a) and establishes a definition for "social worker" as per Section 505.002 of the Occupations Code. The bill also modifies various sections to ensure that social workers are recognized alongside other eligible professionals, such as fire fighters, peace officers, and veterans, for low-interest home mortgage loans.

In addition to the insertions, the bill maintains the existing requirements for loan eligibility, which include residency in Texas and an income cap of 115 percent of the area median family income. The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs is authorized to collaborate with other state agencies or private entities to verify the qualifications of applicants. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon receiving a two-thirds majority vote in both houses or on September 1, 2025, if that threshold is not met.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 2306.5621 (Government Code 2306)