Important Legislative Update

Dear fellow veterans and supporters,

California’s century-old Cal-Vet farm and home loan program is one step away from the November ballot, and it needs us this week.

SB 623, the Veterans’ Bond Act of 2026, would place a $1.25 billion bond before voters to keep the Cal-Vet program funded at no cost to taxpayers, because the veterans who use the loans repay them. The bill is now before the Assembly and must be signed by June 25 to reach the ballot. That leaves us until June 24 to be heard.

Please take two minutes today. Theflyer below has the full details, and here is the short version:

Send a free letter. Visit bearflagveterans.com and send your letter in a single click, with no writing required. One letter reaches the chair, the vice chair, and every member of the committee deciding this bill, no matter where in California you live. (New to Bear Flag Veterans? It is free for seven days with code MYVH.)

If you live in a committee district, call. If your county appears on the attached look-up sheet, your Assembly member sits on the committee, and a 60-second call makes your voice count twice.

Where Our Bills Stand This Week

While SB 623 is the most urgent item on our calendar, we want you to know that the work on behalf of California’s veterans did not stop there. Monday, June 16, the Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs Committee held a hearing on our full package. Here is a brief update on the other bills we are tracking closely this session.

SB 1407 (Archuleta) — Military Retirement Pay Tax Exclusion
SB 1407 would remove the current cap on the state income tax exclusion for military retirement pay and survivor benefits, making that income fully tax-free for California’s retired servicemembers. June 16 it passed the Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs Committee 8 to 0. It is now headed to the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee, which is scheduled to hear it on Monday, June 22, at 3:30 p.m. in Room 126 of the State Capitol. We encourage every member of our community to watch that hearing. The weight of a unanimous Senate vote and an 8-0 committee vote needs to carry through to the Assembly floor. The hearing recording from Monday’s AMVA session will be posted at assembly.ca.gov/events/past once it is processed by the Assembly — check back there if you want to watch the full proceedings for yourself.

SB 888 (Seyarto) — VA Disability Pay and Property Tax Relief
SB 888 would stop California from counting a veteran’s service-connected disability compensation as “income” when determining eligibility for the enhanced disabled veterans’ property tax exemption. Under current law, the very benefits a veteran earned through injury can disqualify them from the relief designed to keep them in their home. The bill passed the Senate 33 to 0. It was also before the Assembly Military and Veterans Affairs Committee on June 16 alongside SB 1407.

AB 2022 (Jeff Gonzalez) — Property Tax Exemption for 100% Disabled Veteran Homeowners
AB 2022 would create a new property tax exemption specifically for veterans rated 100% disabled by the VA: 50% of the home’s assessed value for all qualifying veterans, and 100% for those who also meet a low-income threshold as prescribed. The exemptions would apply for lien dates from 2027 through 2032. AB 2022 passed the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee 5 to 0 on June 10 and is now pending before the Senate Military and Veterans Affairs Committee. We are following it closely.

Please also forward the flyer below to your post, your chapter, and the veterans in your life. Every letter and call that lands before June 24 strengthens our case on SB 623, and every set of eyes watching June 22’s Revenue and Taxation hearing sends a message about SB 1407.

Seth Reeb
Reeb Government Relations, LLC