California Veteran Resources

What Veterans Need to Know
California has one major veteran-protection law already enacted in 2026, a voter-dependent housing bond measure that has passed the Legislature and been signed, and several veteran-related bills still moving through the Legislature. Some pending bills address disabled-veteran property taxes, college registration priority, food assistance, state park discounts, DMV benefits, and disabled-veteran vehicle fee waivers.

🟢 New Law — Enacted
SB 694 — Veterans Benefits Claims Consumer Protection
Status: 🟢 New Law — Enacted

Plain-English Summary:

SB 694 strengthens California protections against unaccredited businesses that charge veterans for help with federal VA benefit claims. It limits unauthorized fees, requires appropriate federal accreditation for claims assistance, and prohibits misuse of veterans’ secure government login credentials. The Governor signed the bill on February 10, 2026, and it was filed with the Secretary of State the same day.

 

Who Is Affected:
Veterans, service members, former service members, their families, and businesses or individuals offering paid veterans-benefits claims assistance.

 

Key Date:
February 10, 2026 — Signed by the Governor and chaptered.
Button Label:
View SB 694 — Official California Legislature

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🟡 Passed — Awaiting Effective Date / Final Action
SB 417 — Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026
Status: 🟡 Passed — Awaiting Final Voter Action

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Plain-English Summary:
SB 417 was approved by the Legislature and signed by the Governor on June 25, 2026. It authorizes an $11.25 billion housing bond package, including $1.25 billion for the CalVet Home Loan Program. However, the bond provisions become operative only if California voters approve the measure at the November 3, 2026 statewide general election.

 

Who Is Affected:
California veterans and military families seeking homeownership assistance, as well as Californians needing affordable or supportive housing.

 

Key Dates:
June 25, 2026 — Governor approved / Chapter 16, Statutes of 2026.
November 3, 2026 — Voter approval required for the bond to become operative.
Button Label:
View SB 417 — Official California Legislature

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🔵 Pending — Still Moving Through Legislature
SB 888 — Disabled Veterans’ Property Tax Exemption
Status: 🔵 Pending — Still Moving Through Legislature

 

Plain-English Summary:

SB 888 would exclude service-connected disability payments from household-income calculations used to determine eligibility for the higher low-income Disabled Veterans’ Property Tax Exemption. The bill remains active in the Assembly committee process. On August 13, 2026, it was held in committee and under submission.

 

Who Is Affected:
Eligible disabled veterans and qualifying surviving spouses seeking California’s income-based disabled-veteran property tax exemption.

 

Key Date:
August 13, 2026 — Held in Assembly committee and under submission.
Button Label:
View SB 888 — Official California Legislature

 

SB 892 — Veteran Priority College Registration

Status: 🔵 Pending — Still Moving Through Legislature

 

Plain-English Summary:
SB 892 would remove the current time limit restricting how long qualifying veterans and certain State Guard members may use priority registration at California public colleges. If enacted, the revised provisions would become operative July 1, 2027. As of August 14, 2026, the bill had advanced to the Assembly consent calendar but had not yet completed the legislative process.

 

Who Is Affected:
Qualifying veterans, current and former Armed Forces members, and eligible State Guard members attending California public colleges and universities.

 

Key Date:
August 6, 2026 — Ordered to the Assembly consent calendar.
Button Label:
View SB 892 — Official California Legislature

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SB 1201 — CalFresh Veteran Eligibility
Status: 🔵 Pending — Still Moving Through Legislature

 

Plain-English Summary:

SB 1201 would require California to seek federal waivers intended to reduce barriers to CalFresh for certain veterans, including some newly discharged veterans, veterans with children, veterans with pending disability claims, and homeless veterans. It would also require referrals to County Veterans Service Offices and veteran job-assistance resources. The bill remains active in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

 

Who Is Affected:
Veterans applying for CalFresh, particularly veterans facing unemployment, homelessness, family responsibilities, or pending disability determinations.

 

Key Date:
July 1, 2026 — Referred to Assembly Appropriations after passing prior committee review.
 

Button Label:
View SB 1201 — Official California Legislature

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SB 1034 — Disabled Veteran Parking and License Plates
Status: 🔵 Pending — Still Moving Through Legislature

Plain-English Summary:
SB 1034 would broaden disabled-veteran vehicle eligibility rules and allow a veteran rated 100% permanent and total to qualify for disabled-veteran plates if the veteran also meets California’s disabled-person placard requirements, even when the qualifying mobility condition is not service connected. The bill remains active in committee.
 

Who Is Affected:
Disabled California veterans seeking disabled-veteran license plates and associated parking benefits.
 

Key Date:
May 14, 2026 — Held in committee and under submission.
 

Button Label:
View SB 1034 — Official California Legislature

 

 

AB 1702 — State Park Discount for Veterans and Military Personnel
Status: 🔵 Pending — Still Moving Through Legislature

Plain-English Summary:
AB 1702 would broaden eligibility for an existing free state-park pass and create a 15% discount pass for qualifying veterans and active or reserve military personnel for use of California state park facilities, including boat-launch facilities. The bill remains active in the Assembly committee process.
 

Who Is Affected:
California veterans and active or reserve members of the Armed Forces or National Guard who use California state parks.
 

Key Date:
May 14, 2026 — Held under submission in committee.
 

Button Label:
View AB 1702 — Official California Legislature

 

 

AB 1765 — Vehicle Fee Waivers for Disabled Veterans
Status: 🔵 Pending — Still Moving Through Legislature
 

Plain-English Summary:
AB 1765 would expand the type of commercial vehicle eligible for certain disabled-veteran vehicle fee waivers by raising the applicable unladen-weight limit to under 10,000 pounds. The bill remains active in committee.
 

Who Is Affected:
Disabled veterans and certain other qualifying military honorees who own eligible vehicles.
 

Key Date:
May 14, 2026 — Held under submission in committee.
 

Button Label:
View AB 1765 — Official California Legislature

 

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SB 893 — Gold Star Family State Park Pass
Status: 🔵 Pending — Still Moving Through Legislature
 

Plain-English Summary:
SB 893 would require California State Parks to issue eligible Gold Star Family members a pass allowing use of state park facilities, including boat-launch facilities. The bill remains active in committee.
 

Who Is Affected:
Eligible California Gold Star Family members.
 

Key Date:
May 14, 2026 — Held in committee and under submission.
 

Button Label:
View SB 893 — Official California Legislature

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