Priority Legislation
CSCVC 2026 Legislative Priorities
Support legislation that would require an individual, who is assisting a veteran with filing a claim for benefits, to notify that veteran if they are not a VA-accredited representative and make it a criminal offense to misdirect or mislead a veteran, or anyone acting on a veteran’s behalf, concerning benefits or entitlements for their own monetary gain.
Support legislation that would expand laws to prevent dishonest vendors and businesses that prey on or scam veterans and active-duty military personnel by criminalizing their activities.
Support legislation that would focus on getting homeless veterans off the street and into housing including transitional and permanent supportive housing.
Support legislation that would reform the current system of property tax relief for disabled veterans by raising the current state dollar limitation on property tax relief for disabled veterans.
Support legislation that enhances health care/mental health care in support of veterans
Support legislation that increases education, vocation, and employment opportunities in support of veterans.
Support legislation to exempt VA Disability Compensation/Pension/Death Benefits from consideration when calculating eligibility of state programs.
Support legislation that would reduce property tax assessment on veterans service organizations’ posts and chapters.
Support legislation that would continue to support expansion of veterans treatment courts and Military Diversion Programs to more counties by providing state funding
Support legislation that would restore the veterans-only specialized license plate, so that there would be two plates available for sale — “Veteran” and “Honoring Veterans.”
Support legislation that would require that California Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises (DVBEs) to hire more disabled and non-disabled veterans.
Support legislation that would create a Memorandum of Understanding (MOUs) between CalVet Veterans Homes and Veterans Service Organization (VSOs) to provide volunteers to the state veterans homes similar to the federal Veterans Administration Volunteer Service (VAVS) program.
Support legislation that would grant the license plate fee waiver to all veterans rated 100% by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) either by way of a scheduler rating or through Individual Unemployability and separate the disabled placard and make it an option for veterans with mobility impairment.
Support legislation that would create a Governor’s Memorial Certificate similar to the Presidential Memorial Certificate (PMC). Include information directing survivors to the CVSOs. (PMC is a signed certificate by the President to the family of deceased veterans)
Support legislation focused on women veterans that would:
-Expand access to health care/health care education services for women veterans.
-Educate women veterans, using targeted outreach, about their earned benefits and what programs they are
eligible for.
-Increase access to childcare services, especially for those veterans who are in job training programs.
-Increase the recognition of female veterans and servicemembers in California.
Support legislation focused on Minority Veterans & Underserved Communities that would:
-Improve access to healthcare, benefits, and other services to address health and other disparities among underserved veteran populations.
-Promote more collaboration with tribal governments to ensure Native American veteran access to health and other benefits.
-Address LGBT veteran health disparities by supporting health provider education and inclusive facility policies that increase awareness of LGBT communities’ unique needs and care.
Support the legislative priorities of the state’s veterans service organizations that are in-line with our own legislative priorities.
AB 1616 (Davies) – Nonnarcotic PTSD Treatment Study
What it does: Requires CalVet to establish a program to fund a study on nonnarcotic treatments for PTSD, with findings due to the Legislature by June 30, 2030.
Why it matters: Opens the door to alternative, non-addictive treatments for veterans suffering from PTSD.
AB 1638 (Ta) – County Veterans Service Officers: Additional Resources
What it does: Provides a stipend to counties hosting active U.S. military bases to maintain a county veterans service officer at each base, subject to base approval..
Why it matters: Brings veteran services directly to active military installations, improving access for transitioning service members.
AB 1702 (Johnson) – State Park Passes for Veterans
What it does: Removes the requirement that a veteran must be a “veteran of war” to qualify for a free California State Parks pass — extending eligibility to all qualifying disabled veterans, POWs, and Medal of Honor recipients.
Why it matters: Recognizes all veterans’ service, not just wartime service, when granting state park access.
AB 1765 (Alanis) – Fee Waivers for Disabled Veterans: Vehicle Weight Increase
What it does: Increases the commercial vehicle weight limit for the disabled veteran fee waiver from 8,001 to 10,000 pounds unladen weight.
Why it matters: Allows disabled veterans who own larger trucks or work vehicles to benefit from the fee waiver.
AB 2016 (Gonzalez, Jeff) – Full Military Retirement Pay Tax Exemption
What it does: Eliminates the $20,000 cap and income limitations on the existing military retirement pay and Survivor Benefit Plan tax exclusion.
Why it matters: Would provide a full state income tax exemption for military retirement pay, making California more competitive for retaining military retirees.
AB 2022 (Gonzalez, Jeff) – Property Tax Exemption for 100% Disabled Veterans
What it does: Exempts from property taxation the principal residence of a veteran who is rated 100% disabled by the VA, including surviving spouses who meet certain conditions.
Why it matters: Provides meaningful housing cost relief for the most severely disabled veterans.
AB 2203 (Tangipa) – Priority Registration for Veterans & GI Bill Students
What it does: Grants priority course registration at CSU and community colleges to students receiving fee waivers as veteran dependents and students using federal GI Bill benefits, starting with the 2028–29 academic year.
Why it matters: Ensures veterans and military families can get into the classes they need to graduate on time and maximize their benefits.
AB 2219 (Schiavo) – County Veterans Service Officer Standards
What it does: Requires CVSO vacancies to be filled within 12 months, appointees to obtain VA accreditation within 9 months, and CalVet to set minimum training requirements.
Why it matters: Strengthens the CVSO system so veterans get consistent, qualified assistance with their benefit claims across all counties.
AB 2406 (Quirk-Silva) – Veterans: County and City Buildings
What it does: Makes technical, nonsubstantive changes to the law authorizing political subdivisions to lease buildings to veterans organizations.
Why it matters: A placeholder (spot) bill that may be amended later to address veterans’ facility needs.
AB 2467 (Committee on Education) – Pupil Enrollment: Military Dependents
What it does: Expands the list of acceptable addresses military families can use to enroll children in school, including off-base hotels during a PCS move.
Why it matters: Eliminates enrollment barriers for military children during the stressful transition between duty stations.
AB 2489 (Lowenthal) – California Veterans’ Right to Try Act
What it does: Authorizes the Research Advisory Panel to seek FDA approval for clinical trials of Schedule I/II controlled substances for veteran treatment, with expedited state-level approval if the FDA does not act in time.
Why it matters: Opens pathways for veterans to access promising therapies for PTSD and other conditions.
SB 296 (Archuleta) – Property Tax Exemption for Disabled Veteran Homeowners
What it does: Exempts from taxation property that constitutes the principal residence of a veteran who is blind, has lost use of 2+ limbs, or is totally disabled as a result of military service..
Why it matters: Provides full property tax relief for the most severely injured veterans and their surviving spouses.
SB 623 (Archuleta) – Veterans’ & Disabled Veterans’ Homeowners’ Exemption
What it does:Allows veterans receiving the veterans’ or disabled veterans’ property tax exemption to also receive the homeowners’ exemption — contingent on SCA 4 being approved by voters in November 2026.
Why it matters: Ends the current rule that forces veterans to choose between two property tax exemptions they qualify for.
SB 888 (Seyarto) – Disabled Veterans’ Property Tax: Household Income
What it does: Excludes VA disability payments from “household income” for the disabled veterans’ property tax exemption, until January 1, 2037.
Why it matters: Ensures disabled veterans aren’t penalized for receiving the disability compensation they earned through service.
SB 892 (Grove) – Unlimited Priority Registration for Veteran Students
What it does: Removes the current 4-year/15-year time limit on priority course registration for veterans and State Guard members at CSU and community colleges, effective July 1, 2027.
Why it matters: Recognizes that many veterans take longer to complete their education and shouldn’t lose priority registration because of arbitrary deadlines.
SB 893 (Seyarto) – State Park Passes for Gold Star Families
What it does: Requires the Department of Parks and Recreation to issue free state park passes — including boat launch access — to eligible Gold Star Family members.
Why it matters: Honors families of service members who made the ultimate sacrifice with access to California’s state parks.
SB 896 (Seyarto) – 250th Anniversary Monument at State Capitol
What it does: Authorizes the Sons of the American Revolution to plan, construct, and maintain a privately funded monument to the 250th Anniversary of the United States on the State Capitol grounds.
Why it matters: Commemorates America’s founding at no cost to taxpayers, with ties to military heritage.
SB 970 (Cervantes) – Secure Ballot Return for Military/Overseas Voters
What it does: Requires the Secretary of State to create regulations for the secure electronic return of ballots from military and overseas voters.
Why it matters: Makes it easier for deployed service members and military families stationed abroad to exercise their right to vote.
SB 1034 (McNerney) – Expanded Disabled Veteran License Plate Eligibility
What it does: Broadens the definition of “disabled veteran” for special license plate purposes to include veterans who cannot walk 200 feet without resting, those with severe mobility limitations, and those with low vision.
Why it matters: Ensures more disabled veterans with qualifying conditions can access special license plates and associated parking privileges.
SB 1040 (Choi) – Veterans Cemetery Maintenance-Endowment Match Act
What it does: Establishes a state matching funds program for veterans cemetery maintenance — $1 state match for every $1 raised locally, up to $250,000 per cemetery per year.
Why it matters: Helps ensure California’s veterans cemeteries are properly maintained and honors those who are laid to rest there.
SB 1188 (Archuleta) – JROTC for Home School, Independent Study & Private Schools
What it does: Expands JROTC program authorization to include school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools, and broadens access for students in various educational settings.
Why it matters: Gives more young Californians access to military science and leadership programs regardless of their school type.
SB 1201 (McNerney) – CalFresh: Veteran Eligibility Expansion
What it does:Directs the state to seek a federal waiver to exclude veteran job-search costs from CalFresh income calculations and exempt certain veterans from time limits and work requirements.
Why it matters: Helps transitioning veterans access food assistance while searching for employment, removing barriers during a vulnerable period.
SB 1407 (Archuleta) – Full Military Retirement Pay Tax Exemption
What it does:Eliminates the $20,000 cap and income limitations on the military retirement pay and Survivor Benefit Plan tax exclusion, and extends the exemption through 2036.
Why it matters: Would make California’s military retirement pay fully tax-exempt, helping retain military retirees in the state.
SCA 4 (Archuleta) – Constitutional Amendment: Veterans’ Property Tax Exemption
What it does:Companion constitutional amendment to SB 623. Would allow veterans receiving the veterans’ or disabled veterans’ exemption to also receive the homeowners’ exemption.br> Why it matters: Removes a constitutional barrier that currently prevents veterans from stacking property tax exemptions.