Monitoring the Session

HB 4789

database of service members leaving active duty

Died in committee

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Rep. Cole HefnerRHouse 5

Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to creation and maintenance of an electronic database to provide information to certain members of the United States armed forces regarding the resources and benefits provided to veterans.

Caption from analyzed text · version I.

Summary

Within 12 months, with written consent to be listed.

The bill orders the Texas Veterans Commission to build and run an electronic database of names and contact information for service members who will leave active duty within 12 months and who give written consent to be listed. State agencies and local veteran service groups, including county veteran service offices, can use the database if the commission approves their application. The point is to let those groups reach departing service members with information about state and local veteran benefits, jobs, housing, health care and support groups, starting September 1, 2025.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-HB4789 · 2025-03-13

SOLD BY

Rep. Cole HefnerRHouse 5

ITEM

relating to creation and maintenance of an electronic database to provide information to certain members of the United States armed forces regarding the resources and benefits provided to veterans.

WHAT IT DOES

Within 12 months, with written consent to be listed.

The bill orders the Texas Veterans Commission to build and run an electronic database of names and contact information for service members who will leave active duty within 12 months and who give written consent to be listed. State agencies and local veteran service groups, including county veteran service offices, can use the database if the commission approves their application. The point is to let those groups reach departing service members with information about state and local veteran benefits, jobs, housing, health care and support groups, starting September 1, 2025.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($3,227,144)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version I · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 21, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB4789, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($5,502,388) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($3,227,144)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Filed
  2. Read first time
  3. Referred to s/c on Defense & Veterans' Affairs by Speaker
  4. Scheduled for public hearing in s/c on . . .
  5. Considered by s/c in public hearing
  6. Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
  7. Left pending in subcommittee
FILED UNDER

No verified beat found.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Cole Hefner

Donors

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$108KDustin Burrows Campaign$46KGulf States Toyota Inc. State PAC$20K

Not tied to this bill.

Sources

The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.

Derived itemized flow · Oct 28, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$107,878.12

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$107,878.12

Cash
$65,000.00
Paid by others
$42,878.12
Total
$107,878.12
mail $42,794.79fundraiser $83.33

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 17, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100986158, 101009093, 101035205, 101069686.

Dustin Burrows Campaign$46,150.00

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$46,150.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$21,150.00
Total
$46,150.00
polling $21,150.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 30, 2025 to Jan 6, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101009093, 101031796.

Gulf States Toyota Inc. State PAC$20,000.00

Gulf States Toyota Inc. State PAC

$20,000.00

Cash
$20,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$20,000.00

Also funds 90 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 16, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100986158, 101009093, 101035205, 101069686.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC

$107,878.12

Cash
$65,000.00
Paid by others
$42,878.12
Total
$107,878.12
mail $42,794.79fundraiser $83.33

Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 17, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100986158, 101009093, 101035205, 101069686.

×

Dustin Burrows Campaign

$46,150.00

Cash
$25,000.00
Paid by others
$21,150.00
Total
$46,150.00
polling $21,150.00

Also funds 39 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Sep 13, 2025 to Sep 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Sep 30, 2025 to Jan 6, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 101009093, 101031796.

×

Gulf States Toyota Inc. State PAC

$20,000.00

Cash
$20,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$20,000.00

Also funds 90 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 16, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 12, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.

Report IDs: 100986158, 101009093, 101035205, 101069686.

Votes

No floor vote loaded for this bill.

Fiscal
Net to General Revenue · FY 2026($3,227,144)

LBB estimate, flow · fiscal note version I · ( ) = negative · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version I · April 21, 2025

Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB4789, As Introduced: a negative impact of ($5,502,388) through the biennium ending August 31, 2027. The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.

First year · FY 2026 · ($3,227,144)

Probable Net Positive/(Negative) Impact to General Revenue Related Funds

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas House · Filed Mar 13, 2025

04/22/2025 H Left pending in subcommittee

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

House committee · Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs · Final status: Died in committee

Companion

SB 1814 by Hancock (identical)

Subjects

Electronic Information Systems

Military & Veterans

VETERANS COMMISSION, TEXAS

Text

The text as introduced · 280 words

89R8373 GP-D

By: Hefner
H.B. No. 4789

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to creation and maintenance of an electronic database to

provide information to certain members of the United States armed

forces regarding the resources and benefits provided to veterans.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code, is

amended by adding Section 434.0261 to read as follows:

Sec. 434.0261. ELECTRONIC DATABASE OF CONTACT INFORMATION

FOR SERVICE MEMBERS LEAVING ACTIVE DUTY. (a) The commission shall

establish and maintain an electronic database that includes the

name and contact information of each member of the United States

armed forces who:

(1) has provided written consent to the commission to

have the member's information included in the database; and

(2) will be discharged or released from active duty

within 12 months of the date the member provides the consent

described by Subdivision (1).

(b) The database established under Subsection (a) must

allow state agencies and local veteran service organizations,

including veterans county service offices, that have applied to and

been approved by the commission to access the database for the

purpose of providing to members of the United States armed forces

included in the database information regarding state and local

benefits and resources available to veterans, including

information regarding employment and training opportunities,

housing, entrepreneurial and health care services, and veteran

support groups.

(c) The commission shall adopt rules necessary to implement

and administer this section, including rules establishing the

procedure by which entities apply to and are approved by the

commission to access the database established under Subsection (a).

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.