Hearings

Assembly Standing Committee on Revenue and Taxation

June 15, 2026
  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Wanna say good afternoon, and welcome to the hearing on the Assembly Committee on Revenue Taxation. We will be calling it to order. We'll be acting as a subcommittee. Wanna go over a few housekeeping items. Before we take up bills on the agenda, I want to address a few housekeeping items.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    First, I would like to remind advocates to submit the position letter one week prior to the hearing in order for your organization position to be reflect on in the bill analysis. Also, want to remind everyone that our committee has a suspense file, and the details about the process is spelled out on the committee's rules posted on the website.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    In summary, bills with a revenue impact of more than 150,000 will not be eligible for a vote immediately after their presentation. Instead, it will refer to our suspense file. Accordingly, three of the bills on today's agenda are suspense candidates, and they are as follows.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    File item one, SB 881. File item number two, SB1406. File item number four, SB1249. All other items will be voted on today, including the two committee bills, are proposed for consent. The proposed consent items are file item number six SB 1436, file item number seven SB 1437.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    With that being said, we don't have a quorum, so we will again, act as a subcommittee. We see our first we see our we see Senator McNerney here. Would you please come and have a seat?

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    That's file item number one, SB881. And Senator, you have your two witnesses here.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    You wanna remind your witnesses, you have two minutes each to make your presentation. And Senator, welcome and you may begin when you are ready, sir.

  • Jerry McNerney

    Legislator

    Thank you, Chairman Gibson, distinguished Members of the Committee. I'm here to present SB881, the farmers, the food bank tax credit. This is a feel good bill. Rising grocery prices have made it harder for families to afford basic nutrition. And today, one in five California families experiences food insecurity.

  • Jerry McNerney

    Legislator

    Food banks are a critical lifeline for struggling families, providing staples to millions of Californians. HR1 cuts to CalFresh have placed additional demands on food banks. At the same time, California is the leading is the nation's leading agriculture producer growing half of the all the vegetables and three quarters of the nuts and fruits. California agricultural sector is so productive that there's a surplus of products. SB881 ensures that surplus agricultural products aren't wasted and instead help feed Californians in need.

  • Jerry McNerney

    Legislator

    Specifically, SB881 extends the farmer, the food bank tax credit to 30, through 2032. It extends the emergency food for families voluntary tax contribution through 2033. This is a win win. Here to testify is Josh Wright of the California Food Banks and Louis Brown representing several agricultural organizations. Josh?

  • Josh Wright

    Person

    Good afternoon, Chair and Members. The California Association of Food Banks represents 43 food banks that partner with over 6,000 organizations across the state with the mission of ending hunger in California. SB881 extends the sunset on two important programs, the donated fruit and vegetables tax credit and the emergency food for families voluntary tax contribution fund. The donated fruit or vegetables credit, often called the farmer to food bank credit, gives farmers a 15% tax credit for donating California grown food to food banks.

  • Josh Wright

    Person

    This credit helps farmers cover the cost of donating food that might otherwise have gone unharvested, which prevents unnecessary food waste, in turn, reducing the formation of greenhouse gases like methane that fuel climate change.

  • Josh Wright

    Person

    It also ensures that high quality food, including fresh fruit, vegetables, and nuts reach Californians, who need it most. SB881 also extends the emergency food for families voluntary tax contribution fund, which allows Californians to donate a portion of their tax rebate to food banks. Californians typically donate a little bit less than half $1,000,000 a year, to our food banks through this fund. And in times of crisis like the COVID nineteen pandemic, these donations have greatly increased.

  • Josh Wright

    Person

    Our network is currently serving a record breaking 6,000,000 Californians per month, and brand new data from the Urban Institute shows that a shocking one in four Californians were food insecure in 2025.

  • Josh Wright

    Person

    This is before the full implementation of HR1, which caused hundreds of thousands of Californians to lose food assistance starting this year. More Californians than ever are turning to our food banks for assistance, and this bill will help us meet the increased need of our communities. SB881 supports farmers, reduces food waste, fights climate change, and helps Californians get food in need. And it's for these these reasons that CFP is proud to cosponsor SB881 along with Californians Against Waste.

  • Josh Wright

    Person

    We ask for your aye vote.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you very much. Next witness.

  • Louis Brown Jr.

    Person

    Mister Chairman, Members of the Committee, Louis Brown here today on behalf of a large number of agricultural organizations, including the American Pistachio Growers, the California Avocado Commission, the California Rice Commission, the California Walnut Commission, the California Fresh Fruit Association, California Citrus Mutual. All of these organizations represent farmers throughout the state of California who have the great honor of growing some of the finest fruits and vegetables and nuts and rice, in the world.

  • Louis Brown Jr.

    Person

    And yet there are people in the state of California who don't have access to them. And the tax credit that is made available through the existing program provides that opportunity. There's still cost born by farmers when they're dealing with unmarketable or surplus foods, and this tax credit helps alleviate that cost, allowing them to partner with local food banks and donate that food for the good of those communities.

  • Louis Brown Jr.

    Person

    Extending this tax break through 2032 seems to be the right thing to do in light of current costs, economy, and uncertainties that are facing our communities around the state of California. For those reasons, we ask for an aye vote and your favorable consideration when the bill comes off suspense. Thank you, sir.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you very much for your testimonies. Anyone in the room wishing to add on as in support of eight eight one should please name your organization, and this is in support.

  • Lizzie Guansona

    Person

    Good afternoon. Lizzie Guansona here on behalf of the city and county of San Francisco, StopWaste, and the Office of Kat Taylor in support.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you.

  • Melissa Kosicek

    Person

    Good afternoon, Chair and Members. Apologies for the late ad. Melissa Kosicek with Western Growers in support. Thank you.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you.

  • Unidentified Speaker 006

    Well, we're here here to support on behalf of two climate groups, 350 Humboldt and Climate Action California. Thank you.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you.

  • Kayla Robinson

    Person

    Good afternoon. Kayla Robinson with Californians Against Waste, a proud co-sponsor and here in support. And I also wanna register support for California Food and Farming Network, Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, Elevated by Grace, Farm to People, NextGen, The Farm Link Project, Doctor Bronner's, Families Advocating for Chemical and Technical, Technology Safety, Lutheran Office of Public Policy, and San Francisco Bay Physicians for Social Responsibility. Thank you.

  • David Knight

    Person

    Thank you. David Knight on behalf of the California Community Action Partnership Association in support.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you. Thank you very much. Primary witness in opposition to this measure, would you please come forward? Do you have the same right? Seeing none, anyone in the room wishing to register opposition to this measure? You have the same right. Also, seeing and hearing none, I wanna bring it to the committee. Any members have any questions for this author?

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    No? I have one question for the author. Would you please what is the biggest challenge facing farmers in your district?

  • Jerry McNerney

    Legislator

    Well, I think one of the biggest is a market in in the wine grapes at the moment. There's not much market for them right now. I think another issue that they do concern is some of the pesticide regulation, specifically regarding almond production. I think those are the two big ones that come to mind. K.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Great. And what motivated you to carry this piece of legislation? What was the impetus?

  • Jerry McNerney

    Legislator

    Well, I, I mean, there's there's food, and there's hunger, and I just don't wanna see people go hungry when there's no need for it. We can distribute the food through it, a system that benefits both sides. So it's a kind of a no brainer to me, chairman.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you very much. And you may close if you wish.

  • Jerry McNerney

    Legislator

    Well, I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you very much. This bill will refer to our suspense files. I wanna thank your witnesses for coming and thank the author for bringing this measure before us. Thank you very much. We also have file item, number, file number 2, SB1406.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    And, Senator, the floor is yours, and your witness has two minutes.

  • Jerry McNerney

    Legislator

    Well, I thank the chairman for allowing me to do both of these in a row so I don't have to come and go. Appreciate that.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Absolutely.

  • Jerry McNerney

    Legislator

    Yeah. I'm here today to present the SB 1406, which will close the so called Montana tax loophole. SB 1406 is a piece of legislation that will increase state revenues by up to $20,000,000 a year without raising taxes. It will also won't cost the state a dime to implement, plus it will help restore some fairness to our tax system. Sounds pretty good.

  • Jerry McNerney

    Legislator

    Some of you may have heard of the Montana tax loophole. It's been in the news recently. It's a scheme to avoid paying California taxes and license fees when you buy expensive cars in some other states and RVs and other equipment like that in other states. It works like this. A wealthy California residents creates a phony shell company to buy exotic luxury cars like Ferraris and Porsches in Montana to avoid paying California sales taxes and fees.

  • Jerry McNerney

    Legislator

    The scheme cost California about $20,000,000 a year in lost revenue. The California's attorney general's office repeat recently completed a criminal investigation of Californians who exploited the Montana loophole to buy $20,000,000 worth of expensive cars in Montana to avoid paying nearly $2,000,000 in California taxes. The investigation took years to finish because these cases are difficult for tax collectors and law enforcement to investigate. That's because the shell companies use in these schemes have no assets and they hide the identities behind the owners.

  • Jerry McNerney

    Legislator

    They hide the identities of the owners behind these shell companies.

  • Jerry McNerney

    Legislator

    SB 1406 will strengthen California law by making it easier to go after the people behind these tax avoidance schemes. SB 1406 received bipartisan support in the Senate and has no registered opposition. Now we'll return over to my witness.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you very much and welcome.

  • Terrence Brennand

    Person

    Mister chairman and members, Terry Brennan on behalf of SEIU California. I don't have a whole lot to add to the senator's presentation other than make sure we recognize these are not normal people. These are not they're not registering minivans and Teslas up there. These are half $1,000,000 cars, $500,000 and above, giant vehicles that are very costly. They also happen to avoid their smog registration by registering it in Montana as well.

  • Terrence Brennand

    Person

    It's a small amount. It's just closure of a tax loophole we need to make sure happens. So for that reason, SCI use in support.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you very much. Anyone in the room wishing to register their support for this measure 1406, please come to the microphone. Your name, your organization, and this is support.

  • Michelle Warshaw

    Person

    Michelle Warshaw, California Teachers Association in support.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you. Seeing anyone willing to were you coming to? Okay. Anyone in opposition primary opposition, please come and have a seat at the table. No.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    No.

  • Terrence Brennand

    Person

    No. Yes.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    And welcome, and you have two minutes. You may start when ready.

  • Unidentified Speaker 005

    My notes up. Alright.

  • Matty Hyatt

    Person

    Good morning, chair and members. My name is Matty Hyatt with the Capital Business Alliance. We respectfully oppose the new shell company rule at SB 1406 unless amended. I apologize. We submitted a late letter just today.

  • Matty Hyatt

    Person

    We understand the policy goal. California should be able to pursue true sham entities created solely to avoid vehicle vessel aircraft use tax, but the new shell company language too far, and we feel that it risks placing legitimate California small businesses in jeopardy. Many small businesses are single member LLCs, family entities, holding companies, consultants, and investment entities. They may not have w2 employees. They may not have a traditional out of state office.

  • Matty Hyatt

    Person

    They may use a registered agent or a home office. Those facts alone should not become evidence that the business is a sham. The most troubling part is personal liability. The bill could expose members, partners, managers, officers, or beneficial owners to tax, tax, penalties, and interest based on an entity's alleged shell status. This is a major piercing of unlimited of limited liability protections, excuse me, especially for passive or minority owners who may have no direct knowledge or control of the purchase.

  • Matty Hyatt

    Person

    We're not asking the legislature to protect tax evasion. We are asking for precision. Please amend the bill to require actual participation, control, or knowing benefit before personal liability imposes. Protect passive and minority owners, and clarify the lack of w2 employees or a physical office is by itself not enough to prove shell company status. For these reasons, we respectfully oppose the new shell company rule unless amended.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you very much. Anyone in the room wishing to speak in opposition, name, organization, and this is opposition from the audience. Hearing and seeing none, bring it back to the committee. Any members wishing to? Okay.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Senator, you may close if you wish.

  • Jerry McNerney

    Legislator

    Well, again, I thank the committee for hearing this bill, and I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you very much. Again, we don't we don't have a a quorum as of yet. And as soon as we have a quorum, McSabbish quorum, we'll be taking this matter up. And this is a suspense candidate. So thank you very much.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    We don't see missus missus Cervantes. But supposedly, she's on her way.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Okay. So we will go let me see. We will move with Senator Gonzales, sB 1349. Item number five.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Item number five. Okay.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Much. Thank you. And youre

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    welcome. And wanna remind your witness, you have two minutes each. And welcome, miss Senator Gonzales. You may begin when ready.

  • Lena Gonzalez

    Legislator

    Thank you, mister chair and members. I wanna begin by accepting the committee amendments and thanking the committee staff for their excellent work. Thank you very much. I'm here today to present SB 1349, which will direct the legislative analyst's office to do a review of our state's greatest tax expenditures. As we all know, California spends approximately $94,000,000,000 annually through over 100 different tax expenditures.

  • Lena Gonzalez

    Legislator

    Unfortunately, many of these programs, we have very little insight to whether where they're actually working and even any data as whether, it is working for the average Californian. And since 2014, every new tax credit is required to define its goals and metrics to determine if it met those goals, while the Department of Finance tracks the cost of those programs, tax credits created before 2014 do not adhere to those standards.

  • Lena Gonzalez

    Legislator

    And in the face of a structural budget deficit, as we've been talking about this week, of course, cuts and impacts to our most vulnerable residents in California, we need to make sure every taxpayer dollar is accounted for. Testifying in support of the bill today, I have Michelle Warshaw on behalf of the California Teachers Association and Danny Kendall Kaiser on behalf of the California Tax Reform Association. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you very much. Welcome. You may proceed two minutes. Thank you.

  • Michelle Warshaw

    Person

    Thank you. Good afternoon, chair and members. Michelle Warshaw, legislative advocate with the California Teachers Association and a proud cosponsor of SB 1349. In 2526, the Department of Finance reports that there were about $94,000,000,000 lost in estimated general fund revenue due to existing tax expenditures. These are dollars that would have otherwise gone to the general fund, which we know approximately 40% goes to schools with the prop 98 minimum guarantee.

  • Michelle Warshaw

    Person

    It's important to note that once tax credits are passed by a simple majority by the legislature, it takes two thirds vote to repeal them. SB 1349 directs the LAO to analyze the cost and benefits of existing tax expenditures, as well as make recommendations to the legislature. Tax expenditures before 2014 were not required to include performance measurement standards.

  • Michelle Warshaw

    Person

    That means these tax credits, which amount to billions of dollars, do not have the level of accountability needed to know whether or not they're meeting their intended purpose and goals. Stepping back and putting this in perspective for the larger California budget, California faces a structural deficit and the legislative budget plan proposes to underfund schools by $3,900,000,000.

  • Michelle Warshaw

    Person

    For every $1,000,000,000 reduction to education funding statewide, there could be up to 9,600 fewer educators for our schools. The legislature needs to look up all options to stabilize the budget and prevent cuts in the future. SB 1349 is one of those options. CTA urges your eye. Thank you.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you very much. Next witness.

  • Danielle Kando-Kaiser

    Person

    Good afternoon. Danny Kando Kizer on behalf of the California Community Land Trust as well as the California Tax Reform Association enthusiastically supporting SB 1349. The land trust network is comprised of 27 community land trusts who support the growth of permanently affordable community controlled land and housing, and the California Tax Reform Association is a nonprofit association of labor, public health education, and public interest groups, which advocates for fair taxes in the healthy public sector.

  • Danielle Kando-Kaiser

    Person

    California's tax system from Prop 13 to Prop 26 is one-sided in the favor of loopholes and tax breaks, And it takes a majority vote to enact a tax break, as my colleague said, and two thirds vote to remove them. One of the few cases where major loopholes were removed was with enterprise zones.

  • Danielle Kando-Kaiser

    Person

    After an in-depth analysis by the California Public Policy Institute showed how these loopholes have been abused and manipulated with no public benefit. The manufacturer's investment tax credit also was abolished after it was shown it did not create the jobs that were promised by the statute. So to remove an unwarranted tax break, whether that is an exclusion, an exemption, or a credit takes real analytical firepower, and that's what we're asking to happen with SB 1349, which would evaluate some of these billion dollar tax breaks.

  • Danielle Kando-Kaiser

    Person

    If California examines every line item in the budget every year, the least we can do is examine the huge revenue over outflow occurring yearly in our tax system. This bill will provide the much needed evaluation Californians deserve and will show whether these tax breaks are being used correctly and whether they're making a difference, and we urge your aye vote. Thank you.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you very much. Anyone in the room wish to speak in support of thirteen forty nines, please line up, name, organization, and business support.

  • Terrence Brennand

    Person

    Mister chairman, members, Terry Terry Brennan on behalf of CAU California, representing 750,000 taxpayers in support of this bill.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you very much.

  • Jessica Hay

    Person

    Thank you. Jessica Hay with AFSCME California, proud cosponsor of this bill.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you.

  • Sasha Horwitz

    Person

    Sasha Horowitz, Los Angeles Unified School District in support.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you.

  • Claire Sullivan

    Person

    Claire Sullivan on behalf of the city of Thousand Oaks in strong support. Thank you.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you.

  • Kat Rachman

    Person

    Good afternoon, chair and members. Kat Rachman with the California School Employees Association in support. Thanks.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you. Primary opposition to this measure, please come forward. Hearing and seeing no one walk. Primary opposition?

  • Unidentified Speaker

    Yep. California School Boards Association and support.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Okay. And support. Sounds good. Primary opposition to this measure. Seeing none.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Anyone in the room wishing to register opposition to 1349? Seeing now, I wanna bring it back to the committee. I'd just like to move the bill to the appropriate time when we reach quorum.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you very much. At the appropriate time, we have someone moving the bill. Thank you very much, mister Carrillo. So with that, thank you very much, Senator, for bringing this bill before us. We have an established quorum as the present time, but we will be once my colleagues get here, calling our colleagues, please come to revenue and taxation Please.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    So we can finish the business. You may close.

  • Lena Gonzalez

    Legislator

    I just wanted to say thank you, mister chair, and your your team as well as assembly member. I respectfully ask for an aye vote.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you very much. We'll be taking this matter as soon as we reach a quorum. Thank you both to your witnesses. Thank you very much. Alright.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    And this item will be a vote item. Okay. Can we have the sergeant of arms call the absent members? So we looks like we have a quorum. Madam Secretary, would you please call the role to establish a quorum?

  • Committee Secretary

    [Roll call]

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    So we have we have a quorum. Quorum is present. So we just heard file item number one, SB881 McNerney. We're gonna move that item to the suspense file. We heard file item number two, SB1406 McNerney.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    We will move that item to our suspense file as well. So we just heard the author of we heard file item number five, SB1349, Gonzales. It was moved by mister Carrillo. That was the motion. Is there a second? Second.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    It's been moved by McKinnor, and it will the motion the motion is do passed as amended to the assembly on appropriation. Madam secretary, please call the roll.

  • Committee Secretary

    The motion is do passed as amended to appropriations. [Roll call]

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    That bill is out. We'll keep the rollover for absence members, and we're still waiting for two more additional off authors. We have two items on consent. We have SB1436. Also well, file item number six, SB1436.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    File item number seven, SB1437. Madam secretary, please call the row for oh, I'm sorry. Okay. Let me just go back. I was getting ahead of myself.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    So sorry. Fall over. Fourth file out number six, SB1436 with the motion do pass to the appropriation and file item number, seven, SB1437, with the motion do pass, to the assembly floor. Is removed by Mister Rodriguez and second by Mister Carrillo. Madam Secretary, please call the roll.

  • Committee Secretary

    [Roll call]

  • Committee Secretary

    The consent calendar is passed.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    The sync the sync calendar has passed. We'll keep the role open for absent members. And so we're still waiting for authors on from the Senate.

  • Committee Secretary

    Richardson and Cervantes. Yes.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    You've already called their offices?

  • Committee Secretary

    Yes. To Cervantes and Richardson. We can go, we can go well.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    So we open the row for absent members. On the consent? Secretary, would you please open the row for consent calendar?

  • Committee Secretary

    [Roll Call]

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    What did you say?

  • Committee Secretary

    Item number five, SB 1349 No. Let's get her down.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Okay. But yeah.

  • Committee Secretary

    I know. But we can still get her.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Okay. So what is it?

  • Committee Secretary

    Item number five.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Item number 5 1349. That bill is out.

  • Committee Secretary

    [Roll Call]

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    K. Senator, you may approach and have a seat, and you may begin when ready. If you have your witnesses, we welcome them to please have a seat with you, and they have two minutes to present. Thank you very much.

  • Laura Richardson

    Legislator

    Well, thank you. Good afternoon.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    I'm sorry. We're on file item number four. Let me see. File item number 4 SB1249. Richardson. So please begin when ready. Thank you.

  • Laura Richardson

    Legislator

    Thank you, mister chairman and members of this committee. In California, there are a 151,000 adults between the ages of 86 to 90. My mom is one of them. She's 88. As as Medicare costs have risen by 10% and inflation has increased by 3.3%, while Social Security benefits have only increased by 2.8%, seniors are experiencing economic instability and declining standard of living.

  • Laura Richardson

    Legislator

    Recent federal legislation recognized such financial hardships and implemented a temporary $6,000 senior tax deduction to reduce economic burdens. California should and must take that same similar action to support our senior population. In 2022 alone, 39.3% of Californians aging at the age of 85 and higher or younger live below 200 live below the 200% federal poverty level. Many elderly individuals relying on fixed or semi fixed incomes spend a disproportionate share of their income on health care, housing, food, and expenses and are prone to rapid inflation.

  • Laura Richardson

    Legislator

    SB 1249 would help alleviate such economic challenges by easing the tax burden on those least able to absorb these growing costs.

  • Laura Richardson

    Legislator

    This bill would provide senior taxpayers ages 86 to 90 with a $3,000 tax deduction until taxable year 2032. By providing targeted relief, SB 1249 aims to improve the financial stability and independence of older adults amid rising cost of living pressures. With me here to testify is Amber King with the LeadingAge California.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you very much. You may begin when ready.

  • Amber King

    Person

    Thank you, mister chair and members. Amber King with LeadingAge California representing nonprofit providers of care services and housing for older adults here in support of SB 1249. SB 1249 addresses a growing challenge of financial strain facing older Californians late in retirement. Many older adults are facing rising costs for housing, health care, and daily necessities. These pressures make it increasingly difficult to remain financially stable and age with dignity.

  • Amber King

    Person

    California's older adult, population is growing rapidly. The number of individuals age 90 and older is expected to grow by nearly a 140% in the coming years. As this population grows, so does the need for policies that help them remain secure and supported. SB 1249 is a modest step to by expanding tax deductions for specified elderly seniors. This targeted relief can help ease financial pressure, improve stability, and support independence for some of the state's most vulnerable and older adults.

  • Amber King

    Person

    For these reasons, LeadingAge California is strongly in support of this legislation and urge your iPhone. Thank you.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you very much. Anyone in the room wishing to speak in in support of this measure twelve forty nine should please come forward? Hearing and seeing none. Anyone primary opposition to this measure? Hearing and seeing none.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Anyone in the room wishing to speak out in in opposition? Bring it back to the committee. Miss McKenna.

  • Laura Richardson

    Legislator

    Senator, thank you for doing this this bill. You're doing the Lord's work here. My parents are in their eighties, and they do struggle. I'm so glad that they live with me now because that said income my parents retired fifteen years ago, eighteen years ago, and their money is not going the same way that it did back then. And so thank

  • Laura Richardson

    Legislator

    you for doing Lord the Lord's work, and I would actually like to be a coauthor on this bill.

  • Laura Richardson

    Legislator

    Oh, thank you. Thank you.

  • Laura Richardson

    Legislator

    Thank you.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Wonderful. Thank you very much, Senator. For brick That's okay. Thank you very much for bringing this bill before us, and you may close.

  • Laura Richardson

    Legislator

    As a good Senator, I respectfully ask for your eye vote.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you. This, item is a is will will be referred to our suspense file, so we'll take it up at a later date.

  • Laura Richardson

    Legislator

    Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you very much.

  • Laura Richardson

    Legislator

    Have a very good day.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Next, we see Senator Cervantes here. We have filed item number three SB1151. Senator, welcome. Do you have any witnesses?

  • Sabrina Cervantes

    Legislator

    Not today.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Okay. You may begin when ready.

  • Sabrina Cervantes

    Legislator

    Thank you so much, Mister Chair and Committee Members, for allowing me to present Senate Bill 1151 today, which is grounded in a simple principle. Infant formula should be clearly recognized as a food product under California law. This bill will codify the existing sales tax exemption for infant formula and ensure that parents, caregivers, and families continue to receive tax relief when purchasing essential nutrition for their infants.

  • Sabrina Cervantes

    Legislator

    By explicitly including infant formula within the definition of food products, SB1151 removes uncertainty and protects families from potential future interpretations that could increase costs for those who depend on these products. Current law exempts food products from sales and use tax and includes categories such as milk products, vegetable products.

  • Sabrina Cervantes

    Legislator

    However, infant formula has evolved significantly over the years. Not all formulas are milk based. Many are made from soy, plant derived proteins, and amino acid formulas, and other specialized ingredients. While some of these products may arguably fall within existing statutory categories, the law does not expressly state that infant formula itself is included. Today, many infants rely on specialized formulas because of medical conditions, severe allergies, metabolic disorder, lactose intolerance, prematurity, or other nutritional needs.

  • Sabrina Cervantes

    Legislator

    Some of these products are prescribed by physicians and are essential to an infant's health and development. Families should not be left wondering whether these medically necessity products qualify for tax exemption based on verifying interpretations of the outdated statutory language. Although department the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration has historically treated infant formula as exempt, that treatment is based largely on regulatory interpretation rather than clear statutory direction. Future administrations or legal challenges could create uncertainty where none should exist.

  • Sabrina Cervantes

    Legislator

    Parents should be able to rely on the law itself, not assumptions about how regulations may be interpreted over time.

  • Sabrina Cervantes

    Legislator

    This bill provides that clarity. It recognizes infant formula as an essential nutritional product and ensures that families continue tax treatment regardless of the type of formula their child requires. Especially at a time when families continue to face rising costs, this bill helps protect access to a necessary something that's so vital and necessary in a child's health and development, their survival, their growth. My children were premature. My triplets were premature and also required a very specific type of formula as they developed.

  • Sabrina Cervantes

    Legislator

    With that, I respectfully ask for an aye vote on SB1151.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you very much. Any primary witnesses or anyone in support of this measure, please come forward? Hearing and seeing none. Any primary opposition in the room? Seeing none, bring it back to the committee.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Miss Quirk-Silva.

  • Sharon Quirk-Silva

    Legislator

    Thank you to the author. I think you were speaking to me this weekend without knowing because I went to a market in Fullerton for just some basic chips and salsa and just happened to pass a display of infant formula, not even knowing this bill was coming up. And I kind of glanced at it, and then I glanced again and was shocked to see the price of a can of info this was powdered formula.

  • Sharon Quirk-Silva

    Legislator

    I'm not even gonna ask, but I've already done this, like, three times today. Ask people, how much do you think a, a can of powdered infant formula is? $75.

  • Laura Richardson

    Legislator

    Oh my god.

  • Sharon Quirk-Silva

    Legislator

    The moms are buying it, so that's why you don't know. No. But how much?

  • Laura Richardson

    Legislator

    35. Nope.

  • Sharon Quirk-Silva

    Legislator

    It was $59. $59.

  • Sharon Quirk-Silva

    Legislator

    And so this is not it is related to pricing, but it's just shocking. And it's also very disturbing considering we know that when people are on a tight budget, they may do things like water down formula. But this exemption, I think is very appropriate. I support it and move it forward. I just wanna clarify.

  • Laura Richardson

    Legislator

    Wow.

  • Sharon Quirk-Silva

    Legislator

    This would take all the formulas that are on available for consumers and give this tax exemption for all of them. Is that correct?

  • Sabrina Cervantes

    Legislator

    Based off of the way the bills were incorrect. Okay.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    K. Any additional questions? It's been moved. It's been seconded by Miss Rodriguez. Thank you very much.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Well, thank you very much, Senator, for being here. We appreciate you being here and this measure, eleven fifty one. I wanna give you opportunity to close.

  • Sabrina Cervantes

    Legislator

    I appreciate your time and patience of the committee and respectfully ask for an aye vote.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Thank you very much. It's been moved by Miss Quirk-Silva. It's been seconded by Miss Rodriguez. I will ask our, Committee Secretary to please call the roll in this measure.

  • Committee Secretary

    [Roll call]

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Very good. That bill is out. Thank you.

  • Unidentified Speaker 027

    Thank you. Now we can go back and pick up mister DeMaio.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Yeah. Now we'll go back and for absent members. Mister DeMaio, welcome. K. Hi.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Great. Great. Madam secretary, please call the roll.

  • Committee Secretary

    On the consent calendar that has passed. Sorry. I'm speaking to mister DeMille. We have you. Yes. The consent calendar. DeMille, I on the consent calendar.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    The consent calendar's out.

  • Committee Secretary

    Mister DeMio, on item number five, I believe it is, SB 1349, that bill is past due. No. DeMio, no. And that looks like it. He was here for some let me do it one more time.

  • Committee Secretary

    I just wanna make sure. I think I have you for everything. I just wanna make sure. Because you came in with the Cervantes one. Yes.

  • Committee Secretary

    Okay. Yes. I have everything.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    Yep. Fantastic. Okay. Okay? We can adjourn.

  • Mike Gipson

    Legislator

    I think all the business before revenue taxation committee has been completed. We stand and adjourn.

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