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Senate committee advances bill to let veterans 'stack' property tax exemptions
Summary
The California State Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs voted 3–0 to move SB 623 to the Appropriations Committee. The bill, tied to SCA 4, would let eligible veterans claim both the homeowners exemption and veteran/disabled‑veteran exemptions and would remove certain property limitations.
SACRAMENTO — The Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs on Tuesday advanced Senate Bill 623, a measure tied to Senate Constitutional Amendment No. 4 that would let eligible veterans receive both the homeowners exemption and veterans or disabled‑veteran property tax exemptions.
Senator Archuleta, who presented the bill, told the committee that SCA 4 "seeks to provide property tax relief to veterans and their families by removing a provision in the constitution that prevents veterans claiming the homeowners exemption from also claiming the disabled veterans or veterans exemption, thereby allowing eligible veterans to stack the exemptions." He said the measure would also remove certain property limitations for eligibility.
The committee heard unanimous vocal support from veterans and advocates. Danielle Hall, a disabled veteran, said she supported the bill and thanked lawmakers for expanding benefits: "I support your bill, and I'm grateful for the provisions that you make for those of us who have served our country, to be able to stack those benefits." Dr. Cheryl Lee, who described working with veterans with health care challenges, said the change would aid veterans she serves.
Other witnesses who testified in favor included Sky Ainsworth (Army), Michelle Bolton (chair of the VA San Diego Health Care System Mental Health Advocacy Council), Tara Jones (San Diego Veterans Coalition), Eric Janssen (Marine Corps), Tonya Savice (Air Force, disabled veteran), Janelle Gordon (Army), Jeff Neal (County of San Diego), William Taylor (Army), Jeffrey Salas (Marine Corps), and Kelly Raleigh (founder, Kindbrain). Several speakers emphasized recognition and access to existing benefits for veterans who own property.
A motion to move the bill out of committee passed on a voice/roll call vote. The secretary recorded three ayes, and the chair announced the tally as "3 to 0" in favor of moving SB 623 to the Committee on Appropriations. The roll was held open because Senator Minjivar (recorded with varying spellings in the transcript) was at another committee; the item was placed "on call" pending her return.
The committee chair noted the bill had received strong support earlier that morning in the Revenue and Taxation Committee and thanked Senator Archuleta for his work on veterans issues. No witnesses spoke in opposition during the hearing.
Next steps: SB 623 will proceed to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration. The Military and Veterans Affairs Committee adjourned after placing the roll open for the absent senator.
Notes and limitations: The transcript uses multiple spellings for one senator whose vote was pending; the committee recorded the final committee vote as 3–0 with the roll held open for that absent senator. The bill is presented in the hearing as implementing SCA 4; specifics about long‑term fiscal impacts, revenue estimates, or implementing language beyond what was read into the record were not provided during this hearing.
