Several Veterans bills are advancing through both the California and United States legislatures. (Photo: Mathieu Thouvenin)
Below is a list of bills currently making their way through both the California and United States legislatures. The California Legionnaire will update this list accordingly.
Veterans Bills in the California Legislature
SB-726 Property taxation: exemption: disabled veteran homeowners.
Lead authors: Sen. Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera), Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield)
If signed into law, SB-726 would increase the maximum property tax exemption for Disabled Veterans to about $4,300 for qualifying properties. The bill does not change current eligibility requirements for property tax exemptions. Veterans will still need to have a 100 percent disability rating in order to qualify for the proposed exemption.
The bill is currently being held in committee.
SB-783 Veterans: suicide.
Lead author: Sen. Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera)
If passed, SB-783 would create a Veteran suicide prevention pilot program in the counties of Los Angeles and Nevada. The program would train Veterans service officers to be able to “identify indicators of elevated suicide risk and provide emergency crisis intervention and referrals for veterans.” Additionally, the bill would authorize the hiring of a subject matter expert to develop an “intense training curriculum” and foster relationships with community partners.
SB-783 is currently awaiting a vote in the Assembly.
AB-46 Personal income taxes: exclusion: Military Services Retirement and Surviving Spouse Benefit Payment Act.
Lead authors: Assemblymembers James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), Devon Mathis (R-Porterville), Esmerelda Soria (D-Fresno)
If AB-46 is passed, military retirement pay and survivor benefits would immediately be made exempt from California income taxes.
The bill is currently awaiting review in several Senate committees.
AB-684 County veterans service officers: additional resources.
Lead authors: Assemblymember Tri Ta (R-Westminster)
AB-684 would, if passed, ensure that California counties that host active military bases would receive additional state funding to hire a full- or part-time Veteran service officer at the county level.
The bill is currently being held in the Military and Veterans Affairs’ Committee.
AB-1386 Veterans housing: tenant referrals.
Lead author: Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Woodland Hills)
If passed, AB-1386 changes how Homeless Veterans’ benefits are factored in when applying for extremely low-income housing within the context of the Veterans Housing and Homeless Prevention program. When applicable, Homeless Veterans would be more likely to secure extremely low income housing compared to Veterans with higher incomes.
Veterans Bills in the U.S. Legislature
H.R.984 – Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act
Sponsor: Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.)
H.R.984, or the Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act, authorizes the VA to grant funds to states and tribes, including those in California, to aid in outreach efforts to Native American Veterans living on tribal lands.
The bill is awaiting a vote in the House of Representatives.
H.R.2846 / S.1267 – Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2023
Sponsor: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia), Rep. Scott H. Peters (D-Calif.)
The Fair Housing Improvement Act of 2023 — S.1267 in the Senate; H.R.2846 in the House — would prohibit discrimination against federal housing vouchers for military families, active and Veteran, making it easier to buy a home.
H.R.3303 – Maternal Health for Veterans Act
Sponsor: Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.)
The Maternal Health for Veterans Act will expand VA funding for Women Veterans’ maternity care benefits while strengthening VA oversight of said benefits. The bill has been referred to the House Subcommittee on Health.
S.1436 – CHARGE Act of 2023
Sponsor: Sen. John Tester (D-Mont.)
The Critical Health Access Resource and Grant Extensions Act of 2023 extends a variety of COVID-19-related benefits for Veterans nationwide, primarily as they relate to Homeless Veterans — many of whom live in California — telehealth services, caregiver programs, and more.
S.1436 is currently awaiting a vote in the Senate.
Author: Christian Southards
Coming from a family with a proud military background and wanting to contribute his writing skills to a worthy cause, Christian began writing for the California American Legion in August of 2020. His father is a 25-year Army Veteran and his grandfather served in the Navy during Vietnam.