Council adopts resolution backing state bill to let siblings of service members killed in action use Hazelwood education benefits

City Council voted Jan. 28 to adopt a resolution supporting state legislation to extend Hazelwood Act tuition-and-fee exemptions so that siblings of service members killed in action may use the benefit when no spouse or child exists to receive it.

Councilmember Dr. Tyler King introduced the resolution, which the body amended during the meeting to reflect the bill number filed Jan. 15 as House Bill 1867 (staff noted the earlier reference to HB2540 and updated the record). Veterans’ groups and family members of Marine Cpl. David Espinosa spoke in favor of the measure, asking council members to carry the city’s support to legislative visits in Austin.

Speakers from the veterans community and family members described the intended effect: to allow a tuition/fee exemption tied to Texas’ Hazelwood legacy benefits to be transferred to siblings in the limited circumstance where the service member dies in the line of duty and has no spouse or children to receive the transferred benefit. “It would be 1 big benefit for for his brothers and sisters,” said a family member of David Espinosa.

Council unanimously approved the resolution and a separate motion asked the city’s public information office to prepare community-awareness material and contact information so residents could register support with state representatives while councilmembers visit the Legislature.

What’s next: Council members traveling to the state capital were asked to deliver the city’s formal support to the bill’s sponsors and staff will produce outreach materials so residents can contact state lawmakers.