veteran care

Experiential therapy involves using hands-on activities, like art projects or going outdoors, to process trauma.

Federal law says only accredited services — like the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign wars, which are always free — can help a veteran file an initial claim, but there are no criminal penalties for violating the law. Many states have banned the for-profit consultants, known derisively as “claim sharks.”

The bill, House Bill 2214 in its original form, passed the House 81-43 — three votes shy of a veto-proof majority. A handful of Republicans voted with Democrats against the bill.

The Texas governor signed a $50 million bill into law on Wednesday to help bring ibogaine through FDA-approved clinical trials for opioid use disorders and other neurological and mental health conditions. Advocates said the legislation is the largest state-funded psychedelic research initiative in history.

HB 2193 assesses how claims benefit advisors are distributed across the state, and HB 1965 explores ways to improve mental health services for veterans.