Senate Standing Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs

Gentlemen, and welcome to the Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs. This date, June 22nd, and I thank you for your patience. Obviously, we overlap with the Senate hearing and some of the other committee meetings. And I'm glad you're still here.

Thank you. So, we'll go ahead and begin in the next sixty seconds.

Military and Veterans Affairs will come to order. And, once again, good afternoon. We have eight bills on today's agenda.

Before we hear the presentation, the bills will establish a quorum, but, obviously, we don't have one. So, madam secretary, go ahead and call the roll so we can establish our subcommittee.

[Roll Call]

Okay. We'll be starting as—officially starting as a subcommittee. And as I mentioned, we have four bills—eight bills and four on consent. Madam secretary, please call the roll for the consent calendar. And again, we can't vote on that because we don't have the consent.

So, we'll come back to that one later. So, let's go ahead in here with our first author, Assemblymember Ward. Please come up front as you present your bill, Assembly Bill 1775.

Well, thank you, Mr. Chair and Senator. Here to present AB 1775, which will ensure that California steps up to support veterans who are harmed by discriminatory federal policy. You might recall on 01/27/2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14183, creating policy even worse than "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" by forcing transgender service members out of the military, not because of misconduct or performance, but simply because of who they are. Now there is no credible evidence that transgender service members undermine readiness, cohesion, or effectiveness.

They have served honorably across every branch of the armed forces and have met the same standards as their peers.

The separation process under this order has been described by service members as "chaotic and destabilizing," with inconsistent guidance, administrative backlogs, and in some cases, as little as 24 hours notice before pay and benefits are cut off. California is now absorbing the consequences of this federal action. Many impacted service members already live here or are returning home with significant concentrations in the communities across the state, including my home community of San Diego.

Without state intervention, these veterans face real risks of unemployment, housing instability, and long-term economic hardship. AB 1775 ensures that California steps up when the Federal Government fails our service members.

First, this bill prioritizes veterans who experience trauma or discrimination for assistance under the existing Veterans Military Discharge Upgrade Grant Program, helping them access discharge upgrades when needed. Second, it funds service providers that offer no-cost housing support to veterans facing sudden income and employment loss due to abrupt or delayed separations.

And third, AB 1775 expands eligibility for expedited state professional licensing to include veterans discharged solely because of Executive Order 14183, helping them transition into civilian careers without any unnecessary bureaucratic delay. While California cannot control any federal executive actions, of course, we can reinforce our commitment that those who serve our country are not pushed into unemployment, housing instability, or long-term economic hardship because of discriminatory federal policy. At its core, AB 1775 is about dignity, fairness, and stability.

When service members raise their right hand to defend our country, California must ensure that we do not abandon them when federal policy turns its back on them. With me to speak, speak in support of AB 1775 are Sunny Kim with the Transgender Military Hub, one of our cosponsors and retired US Major, Veronica Zaire.

Please bring your witnesses forward and they're welcome to take a seat. And before they start, Assemblyman Ward, you couldn't pick a better time to present this bill. Obviously, in the Senate, we're just honoring Pride Month, and we're so proud of that. And we were able to honor the major here on the Senate floor a few minutes ago. So, it's a great time to talk about 14183 and what it all means to all of us.

So, please, if you'd like to begin, Sunny Kim. You can be first up.

Good afternoon, Chair and committee members. My name is Sergeant First Class Sunny Kim. I am an E7 in the United States Army. My father served as a combat medic during Desert Storm. My grandfather served in the Republic of Korea Army.

I joined during the global war on terrorism when I was 17, and I have served honorably and faithfully since. I was in the top 10% of my basic training class. I was the honor graduate in my advanced individual training as an air traffic controller and also in the top 10% of my advanced leadership course.

I've served my country across three continents, forged partnerships with foreign allies, trained and led the soldiers placed in my care, and been entrusted with the responsibility of coaching soldiers from across the army through one of the most realistic and austere combat training exercises the United States has to offer.

Despite my abilities, achievements, and continued commitment, I was identified for separation from service due to a policy change that states that I'm in conflict with, and I quote, "A soldier's commitment to an honorable, truthful, and disciplined lifestyle," because I am transgender.

Fortunately, I was subsequently recommended for retention by a panel of senior leaders. While I am still awaiting a final decision from the Secretary of the Army with hope for continued service, many of my fellow service members and soon to be veterans have not had the same fortune.

They have been or are going to be summarily ousted with less leadership experience, less expertise in their fields, and therefore, less prospects for jobs with some meriting absolutely no financial backstop to avoid the threat of homelessness as they attempt to restart their lives. AB 1775 represents not only a beacon of hope for the transgender veteran's community, it's an investment in these veterans' talents and skills towards California's fiscal future. Thank you.

Thank you. Major, you're up.

Thank you, Senator Archuleta. First of all, I wanted to thank this body. I am retired from the military and this year I received a good note from my accountant that said, hey, good, good news, you don't have to pay taxes on your state on your military retirement. So, I wanna thank you all for doing that. That was a big, big help.

Bass Pro Shop is also very happy probably because of all the money I spent there. I am retired from the United States Army. I live in Spring Valley, California which is kind of in East County San Diego. I wanna add my support to this, to this Assembly bill. Living in San Diego, I've been working with people that are being dismissed from the military right now.

I know the moral injury has caused them. It's left their trust in government shattered. They don't—they've been, they've been hit by a mack truck of financial calamity. There was just last month one individual who needed emergency housing for himself, his spouse, and his four children. This bill's three positions will ease the transition of these military members into California's civilian life much easier and will provide much needed support to empower them as they contribute to California's economy.

I'm gonna close with just this statement. The first thing a grateful society can do to its, for its warriors, once they leave military service, is meaningful employment. Ensuring discharges can be rapidly upgraded if needed, get housing support, and expedited professional licensure will help make these men and women contributing members of California's economy. And I really, really appreciate the opportunity to address this body today. Thank you so much.

Thank you. Now, I'd like to ask if there's anyone in the room here, in Room 2200, that would like to go ahead and come up to the microphone in support of the opinion you just heard and this bill, 1775. This is in support and those in opposition will have an opportunity come later, but in support. Your name and how you feel about the bill?

Taneicia Herring on behalf of the NAACP, California YC Conference, in strong support.

Thank you.

Magaly Zagal, on behalf of Equality California, in support.

Thank you.

Angela Pontes, on behalf of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, in support.

Thank you.

Brock Cavett, on behalf of San Diego LGBTQ+ Pride, in support.

Is there anyone else who'd like to approach the microphone in support? You're welcome to. If not, let's go ahead and see if there's anyone that, as a lead opposition witness, would like to come up and sit here upfront as a lead opposition witness. If not, anyone would like to address the microphone as a member of the public in opposition? I see none.

With, with that, we only have one member so far. So, Senator, any questions or comments?

I mean, the only thing I can say is that it's disappointing that we have to have this kind of hearing, that the Federal Government has made these sort of decisions. I'll support the bill.

Thank you, Senator.

Thank you, and the Senator will move the bill at appropriate time. We appreciate that. And Assemblymember Ward, would you like to close? And then, I'll go ahead and close with my comments.

Well, thank you, Senator. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I very much appreciate consideration by this committee for the bill here today. You know, more than 4,200 individuals, service members across our country, identify as a transgender and are at risk, of course, for all of the effects that we have from involuntary separations. But a disproportionate of those, an estimated 2900 of those either live here in California or are expected to return home to California.

So, this definitely is something that is going to disproportionately both affect our state but also sees this as an opportunity to make sure that we're working very closely with these individuals to give them every chance to become excellent, excellent civilians. Of course, they come, with a lot of the skills training and other—and leadership opportunities as well to, to be able to do that.

But for that necessary steps that we have for them to be able to make that successful transition, the state can really step up and provide that support for the areas that we've identified through this bill. So, we also wanna acknowledge we've had a lot of grace energy between the Assembly and the Senate to be able to have a necessary allocation in the budget, should we meet be able to need that in a two-party agreement.

So far, we're, of course, waiting the governor's signature on that, but that will provide the funds necessary to be able to help support the housing stability part of this bill as well, should that budget get signed and should this bill be enacted.

So, with that, Mr. Chair, again, I appreciate your time today. When the time is appropriate and you have a quorum, I would respectfully request your aye vote.

Thank you, assembly member. So, if, if I may now, ladies and gentlemen and veterans, first off, I'd like to thank all the veterans that are here. Thank you for your service. Thank you for what you've done. As we approach fourth of July, there's gonna be a lot of people patting you in the back, but we all ask one question.

Where were you yesterday? Where will you be next week? And will you be there to support us? When there's bills like this, 1775, that makes a statement that it's necessary to treat people fairly and equitably across the board, every man and woman who turns 18 years of age, or 17 with parents' consent, that would love to join the military, we should welcome them.

And then, we should honor them and, and take care of them when it's time to retire, if they reach that level. So, I thank you, Assemblymember Ward for your presentation. But this bill is about making sure California stands with veterans, veterans across the state who have given so much to serve our community, our country, and our state, members who have impacted and have met the challenge and challenges that will be there from the Federal Government.

We've heard about it. Our military is stronger when it reflects the diversity of our country. It serves people from different backgrounds, experiences, and communities coming together, bringing their strength of diversity, their strength of including their experiences that they will give to the military and those they've received from the military, and—but their mission was always one, to serve God and country. They've done that with honor and dignity.

And Senator Ward—Assemblymember Ward—we thank you once again for bringing it forward, and, but I think it's, it's, it's part of our job, as the committee here, and, and the armed forces altogether here in California to recognize your sacrifice and recognize everything you do. Men and women across the board, regardless of where they were born, regardless of their background or their religion, anything, this bill gives support to those veterans who have, have been impacted negatively.

They've been affected by recent challenges and changes in federal policy, dictating to them who is allowed to serve and who is not allowed to serve our, our nation.

It should be your individual right to stand up and say, I wanna serve this country. I am an American. I wanna participate. And we have history where you've done just that, serving with honor and dignity, pride, and your professionalism. No doubt.

So, we're looking to this bill to help you professionally in licensing and discharge your upgrades if there's a problem in housing, if there's a necessity, but to support you overall. These are practical support items that can make a real difference in your lives, in your future, in the future of your families. So, the military career that you've been abruptly dis—discharged—from, interrupted, it, it is, it is terrible, but we're gonna keep going and we're gonna do it here in California.

So, I appreciate your motion, Senator, at appropriate time, on Senate bill 1775. So, with that, Assembly member, if you have time, come back, find out how it, as everybody comes back, but you have my support.

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

I'm sure that we'll have everyone on board for you.

Appreciate you. Thank you.

So, thank you. And thank you for coming forward. So, madam secretary, as I had mentioned, we do not have a quorum, so, we'll continue on. And we have another honored veteran who served our great country ready to present his bill.

And I'm so proud to welcome Warrant Officer Jeff Gonzalez, United States Marine Corps, who will present Assembly Bill 2022. Assemblymember, welcome.

Thank you, Mr. Chair and members of the committee and staff. I'm here to present today AB 2022, a measure to expand the existing property tax exemption for disabled veterans. This bill provides a full property tax exemption for veterans who are 100% disabled by the VA, or who are blind in both eyes, or who have lost the use of two or more limbs as a result of their military service, and who meet the existing low income threshold already in law.

In 2027, the income threshold will be $83,474 and will continue to adjust annually with inflation.

For disabled veterans who qualify for the exemption but do not meet the low income threshold, AB 2022 creates a 50% property tax exemption. Importantly, this bill also protects veterans under current law. Some veterans already receive more than a 50% exemption, and this measure ensures they do not lose anything. Under AB 2022, no veteran will receive less than they do today. The result is either parity or an increase.

I want to be clear on why this matters. I'm not only presenting this as a legislator, but as a 100% disabled combat veteran who served twenty-one years in the United States Marine Corps. Roughly three hundred and eighty thousand veterans in California live with service-connected disabilities. These are conditions caused or worsened by their service. These men and women answered the call.

They put everything, everything on the line: their health, their future, and in some cases, their lives. Some are family members, like your sons. Some are friends, colleagues. In return, we made them a promise. A promise that when they come home, especially if they come home injured, we would stand by them.

Standing by our veterans means making sure they can stay in their homes. AB 2022 is about keeping that promise. Some have raised concerns about general fund impact as a reason to oppose this bill. My response is simple. In a state with record high revenues, we can afford to provide meaningful relief to those who have sacrificed their health in service to this country, our country.

Frankly, this is the least this legislature can do. I was at a loss for words a week ago when I heard in the committee, when you were presenting, that California already provides generous benefits to disabled veterans as a reason not to expand them. There are 16 states that provide a full property tax exemption for all totally disabled veterans. And it is shameful that California, the fourth largest economy in the world, cannot attempt to do less than that without opposition.

The recently passed budget is projected at $355,900,000,000. This bill represents approximately 0.0005% of that total. Senators, that is five one-thousandths of 1% of our state budget to support California's disabled veterans. With that in mind, when appropriate, I respectfully ask for your aye vote. With me today is Morgan Boyd to testify in support.

Go right ahead, sir.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Senator McNerney, as mentioned, AB 2022 provides a full property tax exemption for the principal residence of a veteran who is rated 100% disabled due to a service-connected injury or illness. The exemption also extends to the unmarried surviving spouse of a qualifying veteran. And we know that families are important, as they live through the same issues as our veterans.

And thank you for authoring this bill. California remains an outlier in its approach toward meaningful tax incentives, which would keep veterans in California, boost the state's workforce, and ultimately increase total state revenues. California is losing retirees and other veterans to other states such as Texas, Georgia, and Florida. Since 2000, California's population of military retirees has fallen by a staggering 27.4%, while the US military retiree population has increased by 17%.

For those in the workforce, US Department of Labor statistics show a 53% decrease in veterans in the California workforce over the last twenty years.

That is larger than the 36% decrease in the US overall, and far larger than the 12% and 27% decreases in states like Texas and Florida. In 2025, Governor Newsom included a partial tax exemption in his budget. The resulting exemption of $20,000 of military retirement pay, effective for the tax year 2025, is a very welcome start.

And AB 2022 adds the next step for keeping veterans and their families in our great state. California is competing with other states for the veteran population through tax incentives. Although scarred in body, not all of us are broken. We are succeeding. We are thriving.

Even with the scars we bear in our service, Assemblymember Gonzalez and others like myself are in that camp. Veterans are contributing to our state with knowledge and assets, including taxes that contribute to the overall health of California. Veterans have been and are currently making decisions about where to live and settle. This will include our new active duty currently serving. They too will be making those same decisions.

And all veterans need to know is that California is prioritizing its veterans. And AB 2022 is key to keeping our veterans here. Thank you.

Thank you. Well, I will tell you this, that strong witness. I appreciate your input. So now let's hear from anyone in the room in support of AB 2022.

Good afternoon, Chair member member. Yolanda Benson representing the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers, and I wanna thank Morgan Boyd, who's the president of that association, to, being here today. I'm testifying on behalf of my colleague, Seth Reeb, who was unable to be here, but he's testifying in support for the American Legion, AMVETS, the California State Commanders Veterans Council, the Military Officers Association of America, California Council of Chapters, and the Vietnam Veterans of America's California State Council. Thank you.

Thank you.

Good evening. My name is Steve Johnson. I'm the Placer County veteran service officer also representing the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers. I'm a twenty one year retired US Air Force veteran, and I emphatically support AB 2022. Thank you.

Thank you. I'm Steve Vancil, a retired Air Force officer from thirty years of service. I'm in the American Legion and also Military Officers Association of America we both support. I've also been asked to relay that AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, and the California State Commander's Veterans Council, a coalition of 22 veterans organization, all strongly support this bill. Thank you.

Thank you. So, ma'am, we're gonna hold you up for just a second, but we're gonna give you additional time. Come on up to the microphone. Okay. You stay right there.

We're gonna establish a quorum as we have our, Senator Menjivar just joined us. So madam secretary, would you call the world?

[Roll Call]

Okay. So now we have a quorum. So we can vote on the Senator Gonzales' bill and come back to the other. So please, ma'am, go right ahead. The microphone's yours, and I'm gonna give you additional time.

Oh, thank you, sir. My name is Susanna Story. I'm a gold star spouse. That means my husband died serving our country. And when he died, I lost 85% of my income instantly.

And unfortunately, they even ripped out the money from my checking account some money that he had already been paid. I'm strongly in support of this. Some of us are only making $20,000 a year, and this would really help those of us that are I myself have three roommates so that I can make it, and this would really help so at least I could be a lead of some financial burden burden.

Thank you and our condolences in your loss and thank you for giving him to us, our country. We appreciate it. Thank you.

Gold Star Our motto is resilience through remembrance, and I'm remembering my husband from his service.

Thank you. Remember our brothers and sisters have fallen.

No way I can go after that, really, honestly. But Clifton Wilson on behalf of the Kern County Board of Supervisors with the current position of support if amended. Love the intent and just wanna say thank you to everyone for all their service overall. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there anyone else in the room who'd like to get to the microphone and support? If not, let's go ahead and go with any lead witnesses in opposition. Anyone would like to get up to the microphone and state their opposition? I see none. So with that, let me go ahead and get back to our committee members. Any questions or comments? Good?

Move with Bill.

We got Senator Menjivar who moves the bill. Okay. Would you like to close? Assembly member.

Thank you, Mister Chair and members for allowing me to bring this important measure before you today. I commend each and every one of you for your support of our veterans and respectfully ask for your aye vote. Good. Semper Fidelis.

Thank you. And so you have a marine at the other end of the table for you. Well, listen. Thank you very much for your presentation. And like again, on behalf of all of us here on the dais, we thank you for your service and thank you for your service as well, Mister Boyd. Appreciate it.

AB 2022 provides meaningful property tax relief for our California disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. And there's that vote that you need as a gold star spouse. These are veterans who've sacrificed greatly in service to our country and for many of them. The rising cost of housing, property tax, it's harder to stay in your homes as you've stated, ma'am.

This bill builds California's existing disabled veterans property tax exemption by providing stronger relief for those most in need while also helping other eligible disabled veterans receiving the benefit of the 100%.

It is practical way to honor those who serve supporting housing stability and help disabled veterans remain in their communities and their homes. So with that, do I have a motion? I do. Senator Menjivar, with that, let's go ahead madam secretary and call the roll.

[Roll Call]

We got three ayes and wait. We'll keep the roll open. Okay. And we're expecting the others to come in. So with that, thank you so very much for your presentation. And again, thank you for your service. Welcome home and God bless you. Thank you.

And we should do the consent calendar before we start with

Yeah. Let's go ahead and do the consent calendar. You're not you're not on your way anywhere. Are you good? Yes.

Okay. Let's do the consent calendar. Madam secretary, call the roll.

[Roll Call]

3 to zero and we'll wait for Senator Umberg and that consent calendar is approved. So let's go on to Assemblymember Gipson who supports veterans and as as so stated in his committee just a while back, and I appreciate those comments. Believe me. So with the Assemblymember Gipson, I'm sure you have a witness

And you present Assembly Bill 2054. And the floor is all yours, Assembly Member Gipson.

Thank you very much, Senator and Members. Thank you for allowing me to present Assembly Bill 2054. Assembly Bill 2054 ensures equitable access to paid family leave for the eligible relatives of military service members. In California, we recognize that when a service member is called to duty, their entire family is also called to service alongside them. State law provides unemployment insurance benefits to military families to help them manage the real life impact of deployment.

Things like arranging childcare, handling financial and legal matters, and preparing for long periods of separation for their families. This support exists because we understand that military service creates sudden significant disruption at the home. However, the current statue does not reflect full range of modern military service for today. Today's service members may be deployed overseas, activated here at home and I want to underscore here at home. In response to natural disasters or emergencies or assigned to extended training in preparation for future deployment.

Despite the similarities in sacrifice disruptions, not all of these assignments are treated equally under existing law. And I want to underscore treated equally under existing law. As a result, families can can face confusion, inconsistent, eligibility, and in some cases a lack of access to the benefits designated to support to support them. That means a service member responding to watch this wildfire like we've had here in California.

Floods or other emergencies here in California may be protected by by protecting our communities while worrying about whether their own families has the support that they need.

Assembly Bill 2054 addresses the gaps by updating and clarifying the definition of covered active duty to reflect the real the reality of modern day military service. Here with me to provide technical questions if they may be any and testify in support of Assembly Bill 2054 is Kelli Douglas with the United States Department of Defense.

Thank you. Afternoon, Kelli. Go right ahead.

Good afternoon, Chair. Not Vice Chair, but, Members of the Committee. My name is Kelli May Douglas, and I am here today on behalf of the Department of Defense. And as a proud daughter of a career marine, I'm also a proud sponsor of AB2054. On behalf of California's military families, including over 240,000 service members and nearly 90,000 military spouses who contribute to this state's economy and communities.

We see this bill as a critical investment in the well-being of our families and the readiness of our nation. Military readiness depends on service members who are who can focus entirely on their mission without distraction. However, military life presents unique challenges that are not often, well understood outside of our community. These include not only overseas deployments, but also extended training missions, state level activations to support disasters and emergencies as the Assembly member mentioned.

And the need for long term care for injured, service members who've been injured in combat.

In short, AB2054 is a common sense policy that modernizes existing paid family leave in California to support the full range of activations and missions that takes service members away from home. Its passage will ensure that all military families in California are supported, secure, and ready for the unique demands of military life. We respectfully request your eye vote and are especially grateful to Assemblymember Gipson for champion championing this vital measure. Thank you for your consideration. I'm happy to answer any questions.

Very good. Thank you. Do we have any, one in the in the, room here that would like to come up and, show their support for Assembly Bill 2054. You're welcome.

Hey. Good morning, Chair. Veronica Padilla on behalf of

I've I've I've got to give a time out here.

This is my former staffer and who is a high ranking sergeant in United States Army Reserves. And she's gone on to work for the Department of the Navy.

Yes, sir.

So we won't say much on that. But other than that, Veronica, welcome.

And the Chair, I believe she also was promoted to sergeant major. Yeah.

And a sergeant major. How about that? So I'm sure that letter, I never mind that.

Good afternoon, Chair. Good afternoon, Chair, members. Veronica Badillo on behalf of Navy Region Southwest and the Military Services in California in support. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you.

Good afternoon. Yolanda Benson on behalf of the California Association of County Veterans Service Officers in support.

Steve Vancil. I spent some of my time in the Air Force Reserve during my military career. Career. I had many members who were also in the guard. I thank you very much, Assemblymember Gipson, for including your guard and reserve.

Oftentimes, we're called in very short notice to active duty. Very much in support. I'm with the American Legion and also Military Officers Association of America. Thank

you. Thank you. Thank you.

Elaine Brown, daughter of Ralph Leonard Brown, who served in the Korean War as a, Johnson Island as an air traffic control tower operator. Anything you can do for them, he got the GI bill, which changed my life. He was a long time public ed teacher, so was Aye. Just would like to let you know if there's anything you can do for our vets, I I'm currently friend with someone who's helping me in in therapy as a peer support. He was in the Iraqi war.

He's about 45, and we're in a grief group together that he leads. And he kept all his men alive and he drove one of the the big rigs and he, there was he did such a great job, but there's not a lot of resources for them after they come out to deal with what they've seen. So I just wanna pass it on. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you very much. Are there any other witnesses in support of Senate bill 2054? You're welcome to come to the mic. Okay.

Witnesses in opposition to Senate Bill 2054. You're welcome to come to the mic. If not, okay. So now let's hear Assembly member, your closing.

Thank you. Thank you very much, Senator. Really appreciate my witnesses and those who came to the microphone. And thank miss Douglas for her testimony and support of this bill. Again, we this is a modern day revising of the definition of covering active duty for those who serve our country.

Again, this is for the families supporting those family members. Again, when we talk about wildfires, natural disasters here at home, we wanna protect those families most of all. Because again, when when those family members, those active duty members are called for service, it's the families who are need to be protected and need to be supported as well. And that's what this bill seek to do.

I'm, you know, I'm a my my father served in Korean War and appreciate his service, but also for the men and women who protect us both here at home and abroad.

We wanna make sure those families are taken care of as well. I respectfully ask when I vote.

Thank you. Any questions or comments from the senators? Motion?

I just wanna say this is this is common sense. People that are deployed are taken away from their jobs, their families. It it makes sense and it's fair. All of them supported and I'll move the bill. Thank you.

Okay.

I have a motion from Senator McNerney. Let me go ahead and make some comments. Assembly member, thank you for bringing this bill. You've touched us with your witnesses and and obviously that your love of God countries, it's there and your dad and and I'm sure you have others in your family and friends that that also serve. We we thank you for that.

It's it's amazing how many family members who did not serve but who have family and they stand up and cheer and yell and support our veterans as you've done, and I appreciate that. So this bill updates the paid family leave and better reflecting how military service works today as you had mentioned. But regardless of whether a person's family member serves in the National Guard or reserves or even on active duty, families are impacted as you had mentioned.

Members are called away and and sometimes deployment is overseas and but you had also mentioned domestic training here in California or throughout The United States taken from their families. So this bill recognized that that and those sacrifices and we will continue to remember those children and family members that are left at home.

[Roll call]

We'll keep the roll open. With that, thank you, Senator, Assemblymember. Thank you. And your witness. Thank you for coming all the way out. Appreciate it.

Okay. And we have we have another presentation. Assembly member Irwin presenting Assembly bill 2531. And when you're ready and your witnesses are ready, please, you've got the floor.

Well, good evening, Mister Chair and members. In December of last year, the Trump administration finalized a rule to prohibit the veteran Veterans Health Administration known as the VA from providing abortion care. The potential effects of this decision are profound. Veterans in California, those who have worn the uniform and put their lives on the line are now being denied basic reproductive health care from the VA because of the Trump administration's discriminatory policies toward women.

Throughout my tenure in the legislature, I've always maintained a steadfast commitment to our veterans, whether it's through my time as the Chair of the Assembly military and veterans committee or through the legislation I ran to place prop one on the 2024 ballot.

It is always been a priority of mine to ensure that we take care of the people who have served our country and taking care of our veterans exactly what this bill does. AB 2531 puts our veterans first where the Federal Government has failed them. It narrowly expands access to existing uncompensated care grant program so that what it will include veterans whose Federal Health Care Coverage does not include abortion services.

This will ensure that veterans who cannot receive abortion care or abortion counseling through the VA are not left behind. The bill also requires the California Department of Veteran Affairs to include a link to the abortion.ca.gov website to their existing list of resources for veterans to ensure that our veterans know they have access to this critical health care coverage.

With me to testify in support of this bill is Angela Pontes on behalf of the bill sponsored planned sponsor Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California.

Miss Pontes, go right ahead.

Thank you, Chair and members. Angela Pontes on behalf of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. We are a proud sponsor of AB 2531. In 2022, following the Dobbs decision, the state created the Uncompensated Care Program to ensure abortion and contraception would be accessible to Californians. AB 2531 narrowly expands eligibility in this existing program to include veterans in response to recent federal action that severely restricted access to abortion care through the federal VA system.

Under this new policy, the VA can only provide abortion in life threatening circumstances. This is an intentionally high threshold that has dangerous and cruel consequences. Despite California's constitutional protections for reproductive freedom, our state's veterans and VA providers cannot obtain or provide abortion care or even abortion counseling. Without this bill, veterans who wish may only ex access abortion care if they have the means to identify a non VA provider and pay out of pocket.

AB 2531 addresses a significant inequity for a small population in a simple way. We ask for your aye vote.

Thank you for your presentation. Is there anyone in the room that would like to step up and issue support for Senate bill Assembly bill 2531, please.

Thank you. Angela Hill with the California Medical Association in support.

Hello. Genesis Gonzales on behalf of Lieutenant Governor Eleni Gunalakis in support. Thank you.

Good afternoon, Chair members. Symphony Barbie on behalf of the ACLU Cal Action in support.

Thank you. Anyone else in the room would like to step up to the microphone and support? Anyone in the room that would like to step up to the microphone in opposition to Senate Bill 2531?

I had a friend who was in the navy. She had a healthy first grader. Oh, I'm sorry. Elaine Brown.

Okay.

She had a healthy first grade daughter. I was horrified to hear that they almost forced her to have an abortion, telling her that there was something wrong with the pregnancy. I don't know how she fought that. I just don't wanna see that use I talked to someone else in the former military. They said, well, there used to be where if it was a vital position, they could force someone to have an abortion.

I don't know if you're aware of that. I haven't researched that, but that's what I heard, and I'm just telling anecdotal story. I don't wanna see anyone in the military forced to do anything. I didn't realize that is a possibility. I don't think that is now, but that's something I don't wanna ever see. Thank you.

Are you in opposition of the bill?

Opposition what I said if that's a part of it.

Okay. Anyone else?

Support or opposition. You're welcome to come to the mic.

Clifton Wilson on behalf of the city and county of San Francisco in support. Thank you.

Okay. Good. Anyone else in support or opposition? Okay. With that, would you like to close?

Yeah. I would just like to say, this absolutely does not force anybody in the military to have an abortion. And this is a veterans bill. So this is obviously somebody who, has served our country and, is no longer serving. So, to the opposition. So with that, I respectfully ask for your aye vote.

Good. Any questions or comments? Motion? Okay. Senator Menjivar, with that, let's go ahead and call the roll.

[Roll Call]

Okay. Thank you for presenting the bill. Let's go back and and now that Senator Umberg is here.

Got it. So let's go ahead and go with the consent calendar. Call for the vote. It's just Tom Umberg.

We're gonna go go for the consent calendar first.

Okay. Consent calendar.

Consent calendar. Senator Umber. Aye. Senator Umber, aye.

Okay. And then goes out. And the the vote is Four zero. Good. Thank you. And on to the next bill.

Motion on 1705 Tom Umberg. We've got that. Go ahead.

Senator, the motion is do passed to the committee on appropriation. [Roll Call]

Four to zero is out. Let's go on to the next bill. Senate bill 2022. Correct.

[Roll Call]

2054. I'm sorry.

[Roll Call]

Four zero goes out. Okay. And the very last one. We did that one. Okay. Well, with that, I thank you all for, coming to the meeting today and thank you for honoring our veterans and, have a great evening. Thank you. Meeting is adjourned.