California veterans, servicemembers, and military families received some significant legislative wins as Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bipartisan package of bills on September 28 aimed at expanding benefits, reducing barriers, and improving access to services.
The five measures address issues ranging from property tax relief for disabled veterans to Paid Family Leave for National Guard families, education benefits, and improved access to veterans services.
For California’s Guard community in particular, several of these new laws could have a direct impact on our members and their families.
SB 296 (Archuleta): Major Property Tax Relief for 100% Disabled Veterans
One of the most significant measures signed is SB 296, authored by Senator Bob Archuleta. The legislation expands California’s Disabled Veterans’ Property Tax Exemption for qualifying 100% disabled veterans who own and occupy their home as their principal residence.
Under the new law, qualifying veterans can receive an exemption equal to 50% of the first $1 million of the full value of their home.
The benefit becomes even greater for lower-income disabled veterans. For an eligible veteran whose household income does not exceed $83,474, subject to annual adjustment, the exemption increases to 100% of the first $1 million of the home’s value.
The expanded exemption is intended to provide greater financial stability for severely disabled veterans and help make remaining in their homes more affordable. The Governor specifically identified the measure as part of California’s effort to help disabled veterans remain in their homes.
The expanded provisions apply for a limited period beginning with the 2027–28 property tax year, making this an important benefit for eligible veterans to watch as implementation approaches.
AB 2219 (Schiavo): Faster Access to Veterans Benefits
Navigating federal, state, and local veterans benefits can be complicated, and delays in connecting veterans with the right resources can mean benefits go unused.
AB 2219, authored by Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo and known as the Faster Services for Veterans Act, is intended to improve coordination between the California Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) and County Veterans Service Offices.
The legislation focuses on creating faster and more consistent service for veterans, including improved coordination, reduced wait times, strengthened County Veterans Service Officers, expanded access in underserved communities, and greater accountability for how services are delivered.
For veterans, the goal is straightforward: less time navigating bureaucracy and more efficient connections to the federal and state benefits they earned through their service.
County Veterans Service Offices are often one of the most important local resources for veterans seeking assistance with disability compensation, pensions, education, healthcare, survivor benefits, and other programs. Strengthening that network can have an impact well beyond any single benefit.
AB 2054 (Gipson): Expanding Paid Family Leave for Military Families
AB 2054, authored by Assemblymember Mike Gipson, addresses an issue particularly relevant to members of the National Guard and Reserve.
California’s Paid Family Leave program already provides eligible workers with wage replacement benefits for certain qualifying military-related needs involving a spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent. However, the previous definition of “covered active duty” was more limited and focused largely on deployments to foreign countries.
AB 2054 expands that definition to include training, domestic deployments, and calls or orders to state active duty for members of the reserve components, including the National Guard.
That distinction matters in California, where members of the National Guard routinely respond to wildfires, natural disasters, emergencies, and other missions here at home.
The expansion is scheduled to become operative when specified changes to the Employment Development Department’s integrated claims management system are implemented, or July 1, 2028, whichever occurs first.
For Guard families, this legislation recognizes that the disruption and responsibilities associated with military service do not begin only when a servicemember deploys overseas.
AB 2203 (Tangipa): Priority College Registration for Students Using Military Education Benefits
Military education benefits are valuable, but those benefits are most useful when students can actually enroll in the courses they need to complete their degrees.
AB 2203, authored by Assemblymember David Tangipa, expands priority registration for students utilizing certain military and veterans education benefits.
Beginning with the 2028–29 academic year, California State University campuses and community college districts that operate priority enrollment systems will grant priority registration to students receiving qualifying CalVet fee waivers and students using federal GI Bill benefits. The legislation also requests that the University of California provide the same priority.
The change is designed to help military-connected students secure required courses, progress toward graduation without unnecessary delays, and make full use of time-limited education benefits. Legislative analysis noted that students who cannot enroll in required courses can face delays that interfere with timely graduation and their ability to fully utilize those benefits.
For veterans and dependents balancing school with work, family, military obligations, or the limits of their education benefits, earlier access to required classes can make a meaningful difference.
AB 1346 (DeMaio): Protecting In-State Tuition for Military Dependents
Military families understand that permanent changes of station and retirement do not always line up neatly with a child’s college education.
AB 1346, authored by Assemblymember Carl DeMaio, addresses that problem by extending protections for military dependents who return to a California public university to complete their bachelor’s degree.
Under the legislation, qualifying dependent students who have the right to reenroll can retain their California resident classification even when their servicemember parent has since been transferred out of California or retired from active duty.
Without that protection, a military parent’s PCS or retirement could potentially result in a student being treated as a nonresident when returning to finish a degree—bringing substantially higher tuition costs with it.
The Governor described the measure as extending in-state tuition eligibility to military dependents returning to a California public higher education institution to complete their degree.
Advocacy Makes a Difference
These five bills represent tangible changes for California’s military and veteran community: helping disabled veterans remain in their homes, improving access to earned benefits, recognizing the realities faced by National Guard and Reserve families, and removing barriers to higher education.
They also demonstrate why engagement in the legislative process matters.
Thank you to the legislators who authored and carried these measures, the organizations and advocates who worked on them throughout the legislative process, and especially the veterans, servicemembers, families, and supporters who wrote letters, contacted lawmakers, provided testimony, or traveled to Sacramento to make their voices heard.
Every email, phone call, letter, meeting, and Capitol visit helps ensure California’s military and veteran community has a voice.
CAL EANGUS will continue working with our legislative partners and monitoring legislation affecting California National Guard members, veterans, retirees, and their families.
There are still additional military and veterans bills awaiting final action by the Governor before the September 30 deadline. We will continue to keep our members informed as those decisions are announced.
This legislative update incorporates information provided by Reeb & Associates and has been supplemented with information from the California Governor’s Office and legislative records.
