The Texas Veterans Land Board, also known as VLB, is part of the

Texas General Land Office The Texas General Land Office (GLO) is a state agency of the U.S. state of Texas, responsible for managing lands and mineral rights properties that are owned by the state. The GLO also manages and contributes to the state's Permanent School F ...

. Created by the Texas Legislature in 1946, the board was established to make land available to veterans returning from

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

. Today, the organization finances land, home loans and home improvement loans for Texas

veterans A veteran () is a person who has significant experience (and is usually adept and esteemed) and expertise in an job, occupation or Craft, field. A military veteran is a person who is no longer serving in the military, armed forces. A topic o ...

and active military members who are eligible under VLB requirements. The board is composed of a Chair and two governor appointees. Under the Texas Constitution, the Commissioner of the Texas General Land Office is the ex officio chair. As of 2024, the Chairwoman is Land Commissioner

Dawn Buckingham Dawn Buckingham (February 21, 1968) is an American physician and politician who has served as Land Commissioner of Texas since 2023. She was elected in November 2022 and sworn in on January 10, 2023. A member of the Republican Party, she served ...

), plus two citizens — one specializing in veterans' affairs and one in finances. The citizen members are appointed by the

Governor of Texas The governor of Texas is the head of state of the U.S. state of Texas. The governor is the head of the executive branch of the government of Texas and is the commander-in-chief of the Texas Military Forces. Established in the Constit ...

and confirmed by the Texas Senate. Retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Judson "Jud" Scott and James Rothfelder are the current serving board members. VLB also owns and manages fou
Texas State Veterans Cemeteries
with a fifth under construction in Lubbock and the nine, soon to be ten state veterans homes that provide long-term skilled nursing care for veterans, spouses and Gold Star parent
Texas State Veterans Home Program

History

In 1954, a newspaper reporter discovered that many veterans, in exchange for money, were tricked into signing loans to purchase land in several

South Texas South Texas is a geographic and cultural region of the U.S. state of Texas that lies roughly south of—and includes—San Antonio. The southern and western boundary is the Rio Grande, and to the east it is the Gulf of Mexico. The population of th ...

counties. Subsequent investigation of the General Land Office resulted in a major scandal. Texas Land Commissioner

Bascom Giles James Bascom Giles (September 21, 1900 – July 7, 1993) was an American politician who was the Texas Land Commissioner from 1939 to 1955. Implicated in the Veterans' Land Board scandal, he gave up his office and served three years in prison. Ea ...

went to prison for conspiracy to commit theft, becoming the first Texas state official to go to prison for a crime committed in office.

Land loan program

The basic requirements for an applicant to participate in the Veterans Land Program are as follows: # At least 18 years of age # A bona fide and legal resident of Texas on the date of application and meet one of the following service criteria: * An active duty military member * A member of the Texas National Guard * A reserve component military member having completed 20 qualifying years for retirement * Served at least 90 days of active duty days unless discharged sooner due to service-connected disability and not discharged dishonorably * A surviving spouse of a Veteran listed as missing in action or whose death was service-connected Eligible Veterans may finance up to $150,000 of land for tracts that are or greater. A minimum 5% down payment is required in addition to application and appraisal fees. The

interest rate An interest rate is the amount of interest due per period, as a proportion of the amount lent, deposited, or borrowed (called the principal sum). The total interest on an amount lent or borrowed depends on the principal sum, the interest rate, ...

for land loans as of February 2017 is 7.25%. Disabled veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for additional interest rate deductions for housing and home improvement loans.Veterans Home Loans
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Other programs

In 1983, th
Texas Veterans Housing Assistance Program
was created to offer up to $417,000 in home loan financing to Texas veterans. In 1986, th
Texas Veterans Home Improvement Program
was introduced to offer Texas veterans up to $50,000 in home improvement loans. Interest rates for VLB housing and home improvement loans are posted online weekly. Disabled veterans and surviving spouses may qualify for additional interest rate deductions for veteran home loans and home improvement loans. Th
Texas Voices of Veterans Oral History Program
was begun in 2008 as a means of recording and saving veterans interviews for posterity.

References

External links

Texas Veterans Land Board official site
{{authority control Veterans Land Board State departments of veterans affairs in the United States Organizations based in Austin, Texas 1946 establishments in Texas Government agencies established in 1946 Veterans' settlement schemes