Senate committee advances bill to extend full property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans

Senate Bill 296, authored by Senator Luis R. Archuleta, was moved out of the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee to the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs after testimony and unanimous support from committee members and county assessors.

The bill would expand the existing disabled‑veteran property tax benefit to provide a full property tax exemption for homeowners who are rated 100% service‑connected disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and would make the benefit available to an unmarried surviving spouse under the terms laid out in the bill. Archuleta told the committee the exemption requires documentation from the VA before the benefit is granted.

Committee members and witnesses emphasized housing affordability for veterans. Archuleta said the bill is aimed at keeping disabled veterans in California by reducing housing costs for those with a 100% disability rating. “This bill seeks to provide an additional helping hand to our veterans and homeowners who have a 100 percent disability,” Archuleta said.

Retired Army veteran Kenneth "Kenny" Shoemake, who testified in support, described his 100% service‑connected disability and said the measure would benefit him and his wife; Shoemake said the bill’s survivor provision would allow his wife to continue receiving the benefit if he died. Joaquin Torres, speaking for the California Assessors Association, and Jordan Marks, Assessor‑Recorder for San Diego County, urged passage and described administrative considerations. Marks said San Diego County has qualified over 18,500 disabled‑veteran homeowners and estimated the current partial exemption saves eligible veterans about $1,500 per year but that many face much higher property‑tax bills.

Amy Garrett of the California Association of Realtors also voiced support, noting rising homeowner costs and the need for targeted relief.

The committee’s motion to pass SB 296 to the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs carried unanimously on the record. The measure was reported out of committee by voice roll call and listed as moved out with a final committee tally reported as 5‑0.

Votes at a glance: The committee recorded aye votes from Senators McNerney (chair), Valadares, Ashby, Grayson and Umberg; the motion to pass was recorded as 5‑0 and the bill was placed on call before being reported out.

Implementation details and clarifications raised in committee testimony included the requirement that a veteran’s 100% disability rating be documented by the VA, and that current county assessors administer the exemption; assessors testified that clear statutory and administrative guidance would be important to avoid confusion during implementation.

SB 296 now moves to the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs for further consideration.