Today marks the first day of the 2025-2026 legislative session.
I welcome my new colleagues to the Legislature, and I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for the trust and confidence you continue to place in me to represent and serve our 32nd District.
I kicked off the session by introducing my first bill, SB 1, which seeks to relieve the Veterans and their families from the undue burden of taxed military retirement income and Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) payments.
Military retirement is earned by serving twenty years or more in our nation’s military.
Much like a life insurance policy, SBPs are an optional benefit that military service members may opt to pay into. After their death, these benefits, usually paid out to a surviving spouse or child, are considered a taxable income source.
As the only state in the nation that fully taxes both military retirement income and SBPs, it is time for California to catch up and honor our Veterans for the hard work and sacrifice they have given us. Exempting their retirement income and survivor benefits for families of fallen Veterans is a simple and effective way to do so.
Currently, over 27,000 surviving family members and 141,000 retirees receive their benefits within California.
It is time for California to join the rest of the nation in supporting our Veterans and ensuring their families are not unfairly burdened by taxation. These individuals have given everything to serve our country; we must now do our part to support them. Surely one of the simplest ways we can express our gratitude is not to tax the very compensation we give them for that service.
It my priority and privilege to serve as your voice in Sacramento.
Thank you.
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