Current Status:

Failed

(2026-02-02: Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.)

Introduced

In Committee

Awaiting First Chamber Vote

Passed First Chamber

In Committee

Awaiting Second Chamber Vote

Passed Second Chamber

Enacted

Version:

Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs. The department, among other services, provides veterans and their dependents and survivors with assistance in processing service-related disability claims, assistance in obtaining affordable housing, and information about health ailments issues associated with military service.

This bill would declare the Legislatures intent to enact legislation creating a task force that focuses on retaining veterans in California to help solve the shortage of labor and key professional skills, and improving the economic opportunities available to military families in the state.

This bill would create the Veteran Task Force for the purpose of reversing the trend of veterans and individuals transitioning from the military who are leaving California to reside and work in another state. The bill would prescribe the composition of the task force, including, among others, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The bill would require the task force to, among other things, examine existing veterans benefits in California, assistance for individuals transitioning from the military, childcare availability, affordable housing, and other services and opportunities to retain veterans and their families in California.

Version:

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1.Article 8.3 (commencing with Section 999.90) is added to Chapter 6 of Division 4 of the Military and Veterans Code, to read:8.3.Veteran Task Force999.90.

The Veteran Task Force is hereby created for the purpose of reversing the trend of veterans and individuals transitioning from the military who are leaving California to reside and work in another state.

999.91.

(a)The Veteran Task Force shall consist of all of the following members:

(1)The secretary, director, commissioner, chair, or adjutant general, as applicable, or their designee, from each of the following:

(A)Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency.

(B)California Health and Human Services Agency.

(C)Department of Veterans Affairs.

(D)Department of the California Highway Patrol.

(E)Employment Development Department.

(F)Governors Military Council.

(G)Governors Office of Business and Economic Development (Go-Biz).

(H)Military Department.

(2)The chairperson of the Assembly Appropriations Committee or a representative appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.

(3)The chairperson of the Assembly Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs or a representative appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.

(4)The chairperson of the Senate Appropriations Committee or a representative appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.

(5)The chairperson of the Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs or a representative appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.

(6)A representative of public or private institutions of higher education.

(7)A representative of each of the following stakeholder organizations:

(A)CAL FIRE Local 2881.

(B)California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce.

(C)California Professional Firefighters.

(D)California State Sheriffs Association.

(E)Chief Probation Officers of California.

(F)International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

(G)Peace Officers Research Association of California.

(H)San Diego Military Advisory Council, who shall be the vice chairperson of the task force.

(I)Sheet Metal Air Rail Transportation Local Union 104.

(J)The State Building and Construction Trades Council of California.

(K)U.S. VETS.

(L)VetFund Foundation, who shall be the chairperson of the task force.

(M)Veterans in Business Network.

(b)Members of the task force shall not receive any compensation.

999.92.

(a)The task force shall do all of the following:

(1)Examine various services, opportunities, and policies across departments that could be offered to veterans as incentives for them and their families to remain in California.

(2)Conceive, investigate, and recommend diverse ideas that would contribute to achieving the objective of retaining veterans in California.

(3)Examine all of the following objectives:

(A)Existing veteran benefits in California.

(B)Assistance for individuals transitioning from the military.

(C)License portability for military and veteran spouses.

(D)Childcare availability.

(E)Affordable housing.

(F)Taxation relief.

(G)Veteran-owned businesses.

(b)The task force may establish working groups, task forces, or other structures from within its membership or with outside members to assist it in its work.

SECTION 1.It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation creating a task force that focuses on retaining veterans in California to help solve the shortage of labor and key professional skills, and improving the economic opportunities available to military families in the state.

Date	Status
Feb 2, 2026	Returned to Secretary of Senate pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
May 6, 2025	May 12 set for first hearing canceled at the request of author.
May 2, 2025	Set for hearing May 12.
Apr 29, 2025	From 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.
Apr 8, 2025	Set for hearing April 28.
Apr 2, 2025	Re-referred to Com. on M. & V.A.
Mar 26, 2025	From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
Feb 26, 2025	Referred to Com. on RLS.
Feb 20, 2025	From printer. May be acted upon on or after March 22.
Feb 19, 2025	Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.

Date	Description	Location	Votes
Apr 28, 2025	Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations] with the recommendation: To Consent Calendar	Senate Standing Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs	4 0 1 Passed

Key

Pro

Against

Did Not Vote

This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.

Positions by individuals are not included.

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

Organization	Position	Date
Vet Fund Foundation	** Support
Veterans Of Foreign Wars Department Of California	** Support

* Testimony in a hearing

** Position recorded in bill analysis

*** Position recorded in written testimony

SENATE COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS

Senator Bob Archuleta, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular

Bill No: SB 519 Hearing Date: 4/28/25

Author:	Archuleta
Version:	3/26/25 Amended
Urgency:	No	Fiscal:	Yes
Consultant:	Jenny Callison

Subject: Veterans

DESCRIPTION

Summary:

Creates the Veteran Task Force to reverse the trend of veterans and individuals transitioning from the military who are leaving California to reside and work in another state.

Existing law:

Establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs (CalVet) to, among other things, provides veterans and their dependents and survivors with assistance in processing service-related disability claims, assistance in obtaining affordable housing, and information about health issues associated with military service

This bill:

Creates the Veteran Task Force, for the purpose of reversing the trend of veterans and individuals transitioning from the military who are leaving California to reside and work in another state.
Prescribes the composition of the task force will consist of:
The secretary, director, commissioner, chair, or adjutant general, as applicable, or their designee, from each of the following:
1. Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency.
2. California Health and Human Services Agency.
3. Department of Veterans Affairs.
4. Department of the California Highway Patrol.
5. Employment Development Department.
6. Governor’s Military Council.
7. Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (Go-Biz).
8. Military Department.
The chairperson of the Assembly Appropriations Committee or a representative appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
The chairperson of the Assembly Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs or a representative appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
The chairperson of the Senate Appropriations Committee or a representative appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
The chairperson of the Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs or a representative appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
A representative of public or private institutions of higher education.
A representative of each of the following stakeholder organizations:
1. CAL FIRE Local 2881.
2. California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce.
3. California Professional Firefighters.
4. California State Sheriffs’ Association.
5. Chief Probation Officers of California.
6. International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
7. Peace Officers Research Association of California.
8. San Diego Military Advisory Council, who shall be the vice chairperson of the task force.
9. Sheet Metal Air Rail Transportation Local Union 104.
10. The State Building and Construction Trades Council of California.
11. U.S. VETS.
12. VetFund Foundation, who shall be the chairperson of the task force.
13. Veterans in Business Network.
Requires the task force to, do all of the following:
1. Examine various services, opportunities, and policies across departments that could be offered to veterans as incentives for them and their families to remain in California.
2. Conceive, investigate, and recommend diverse ideas that would contribute to achieving the objective of retaining veterans in California.
3. Examine all of the following objectives:
  1. Existing veteran benefits in California.
  2. Assistance for individuals transitioning from the military.
  3. License portability for military and veteran spouses.
  4. Childcare availability.
  5. Affordable housing.
  6. Taxation relief.
  7. Veteran-owned businesses.

BACKGROUND

California home to one of the largest veteran populations in the nation, but it is losing veterans to other states at a very high rate. In 2012, California was home to approximately 1.86 million veterans and the most highly populated demographic of veterans. Today, it is home to 1.29 million veterans, a 30.41% decrease since 2022. Texas is now home to the most veterans in the nation, and California is almost tied for second with the state of Florida.

Between 2016 and 2022, the number of military retirees receiving federal pensions residing in California declined by nearly 19,000—a 12.6% drop—while Texas and Florida added 5.6% and 6.9%, respectively. Overall, since 2000 California’s population of military retirees has fallen by 27.4% while the U.S. military retiree population has increased by 17.0%.

California is home to about 39 million people, and Texas is home to about 31 million. Despite its much larger population, California is home to less veterans than Texas. Many active-duty servicemembers and veterans call California home, either by birth or by deciding to stay after being stationed here. Those same people choose to move away, for reasons such as:

Cost of Living
Housing Prices
Housing Availability
High Taxes
Transportation Costs
Increasing Crime Rates

COMMENT

This bill will create a task force to explore critical issues that stand in the way of retaining veterans and their families in the state of California. Veterans who lived in California and who want to make California their home, should be welcomed here with open arms. Instead, there are still 11,000 unhoused veterans in the state and very few options for them to move into. By convening a group of stakeholders to study these challenges and recommend solutions, SB 519 provides a strategic approach to preserving California’s veteran population and strengthening communities.

The author may wish to consider the following options as the bill moves through the process:

Reporting criteria and/or a due date.
A sunset date for the task force.
Flexibility in leadership within the committee

POSITIONS

Sponsor: San Diego Military Advisory Council

Support: Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California
Vetfund Foundation

Oppose: None on File.

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Authors shown for version:
Amended Senate (3/26/2025)