Roles Played by Texas General Land Office
By Allen Vaught, Texas House of Representatives
In the previous article I discussed the 1991 Texas Oil Spill Prevention and Response Act, or OSPRA, and the various roles assigned to state agencies tasked with cleanup and response.
One of those agencies was the Texas General Land Office, GLO.
While the GLO is not as well known as other agencies such as the Texas Department of Transportation, the Texas Department of Insurance, or the Texas Workforce Commission, the GLO is actually the oldest state agency in Texas and provides numerous services and resources to and for Texans.
State lands and mineral rights
Established in 1836 by the Republic of Texas, the GLO’s primary obligation is to maintain records over and manage state lands and mineral rights across Texas. Additionally, the GLO is responsible for leasing drilling rights for oil and gas production, which is especially relevant to North Texas because of the Barnett Shale.
The royalties and revenue collected on drilling is deposited directly into the Permanent School Fund. Furthermore, the dividends and interest collected from the Permanent School Fund investments then go into the Available School Fund where the funds are used to offset property taxes for local school districts.
Veterans Land Board
The Texas Veterans Land Board, VLB, created in 1946 and housed under the GLO’s authority, provides land, housing, and home improvement loans to Texas veterans. As a tradition that dates back to the days of Sam Houston, Texas provides land to veterans in recognition of their service to both the state and the country.
The Texas Legislature created the Veterans Housing Assistance Program in 1983 and added on the Veterans Home Improvement Program in 1986. With these programs, Texas can provide below-market interest rate loans to veterans looking to purchase or improve their homes. The VLB program is funded through bonds issued and authorized by the voters of Texas.
Record keeping
The GLO maintains archives, maps, and land grant records dating back to the 18th century that show public and private land ownership and boundary lines. The Archives and Records department preserves these documents for public viewing in its Austin office research room. Several of the historic documents may also be viewed online, including Great Military Maps of Texas and a map of the Republic of Texas.
Texas history
In 2004, Texas GLO Commissioner Jerry Patterson created the Save Texas History program as an initiative to promote Texas history and conserve historic documents. As a way to get children interested in Texas history, the Save Texas History program created the Texas Travels Essay Contest where students are asked to write about the historical importance of a Texas city or town.
Patterson provides prizes for the children. Additionally, the GLO developed “Musical Texas!” which is a Texas themed musical album that showcases some of the unique aspects of Texas history.
If you have questions regarding the Texas General Land Office, I invite you to contact my district office at (214) 370-8305 or my Capitol office at (512) 463-0244. Please free to e-mail me as well, and be sure to include your name and full address. I look forward to hearing from you.
Sources: Texas General Land Office
Leave a Comment