CaliforniaCalifornia would cut property taxes for eligible disabled veteran homeowners
Starting in 2027, qualifying veterans and some surviving spouses could pay less property tax on their main home through 2031.
What it does
Eligible veteran homeowners would receive a property tax break on up to $1 million of home value: 50%, or 100% if household income is within the limit.
An eligible unmarried surviving spouse could receive the same home-value tax break the veteran would have received, with a full exemption for households within the income limit.
The state would track the home value and taxpayers covered by the exemption and report the results to lawmakers each year.
Argument forEligible homeowners and surviving spouses could keep more of their income by paying less property tax on their home.
Argument againstLocal agencies could lose property tax revenue from these exemptions, and the state would not repay that lost revenue.
More detail
County assessors would exempt part of an eligible veteran homeowner’s home value from property taxes. The home must be the veteran’s main residence and owned by the veteran, their spouse, or both. The veteran must be blind in both eyes, have lost use of two or more limbs, or be rated totally disabled due to a service-related injury or illness. The exemption replaces other real property tax exemptions for the same claimant and home. A claimant must give the county assessor documents showing eligibility, including a disability rating letter. The exemption applies to property tax dates from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2031.
County assessors would grant an unmarried surviving spouse an exemption based on the amount the veteran or spouse would have qualified for. The property must be the unmarried surviving spouse’s main residence and must have been the veteran’s main residence when the veteran died. The veteran must have qualified during life, or died from a service-connected injury or illness, and must have lived in California on January 1 of the year they died. The survivor must provide eligibility documents to the assessor. The exemption applies to property tax dates from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2031.
The State Board of Equalization would collect available county data and report on the exemption to the Legislature. Reports cover the amount of assessed value exempted and the number and type of taxpayers receiving the exemption. The Board must use county assessor data to the extent it is available. The state will not reimburse local agencies for property tax revenue lost under the bill. Reports are due by June 1 each year from 2027 through 2031.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 28Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 727, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 28Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 27Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4:30 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 24Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 5681.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.Major
- Vote recorded Unfinished Business SB296 Archuleta et al. Concurrence. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 19In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
- Vote recorded SB 296 Archuleta Senate Third Reading By Schiavo. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 19Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 78. Noes 0. Page 6270.) Ordered to the Senate.Passed Assembly
- Aug 17Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 13Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 13From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 13).Major
- Aug 13Assembly Rule 63 suspended.
- Aug 5August 5 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
- Jul 1Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Major
- Jun 30From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (June 29).Major
- Jun 29
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- 2025
- Jul 15Retained in suspense file.
- Jul 15July 14 hearing: Placed on REV. & TAX. suspense file.
- Jul 3Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.Major
- Jul 2From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on REV. & TAX. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (July 1).Major
- Jul 1
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended, and be re-referred to the Committee on [Revenue and Taxation] with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Lower
- Jun 9Re-referred to Coms. on M. & V.A. and REV. & TAX. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.Minor
- Jun 5Referred to Coms. on REV. & TAX. and M. & V.A.Minor
- May 29In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.Minor
- Vote recorded Special Consent SB296 Archuleta et al. Result: pass.Upper
- May 29Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 38. Noes 0. Page 1324.) Ordered to the Assembly.Passed Senate
- May 27Ordered to special consent calendar.
- May 23Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Upper
- May 23From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 6. Noes 0. Page 1195.) (May 23).Minor
- May 16Set for hearing May 23.
- May 12May 12 hearing: Placed on APPR. suspense file.
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- May 2Set for hearing May 12.
- Apr 29From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To consent calendar. (Ayes 4. Noes 0. Page 918.) (April 28). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 28
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 28Set for hearing April 28.
- Mar 26From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on M. & V.A. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 568.) (March 26). Re-referred to Com. on M. & V.A.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Military and Veterans Affairs]. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 19From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.Major
- Mar 18Set for hearing March 26.
- Feb 19Referred to Coms. on REV. & TAX. and M. & V.A.Minor
- Feb 11From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 13.
- Feb 10Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.Introduced
Taxes & BudgetDisability RightsVeterans