SACRAMENTO — The Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs unanimously passed legislation Sen. Jeff Stone, R-Riverside County, authored to provide needed and deserved tax relief to those who have worn this nation’s uniform and served it faithfully.

Senate Bill 364 — the Veterans Tax Relief Bill — previously received unanimous support in the Senate Committee on Governance and Finance. SB 364 is similar to SB 1104 which the Senator introduced in 2016. That bill received bi-partisan support but was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee before it could be heard by the entire legislature.

Stone’s bill would cap property taxes on the primary residence of all honorably discharged veterans over the age of 65 and exempt the property tax of 100 percent disabled veterans living in their primary residence.

Bill to Provide Tax Relief for Veterans Advances

Sen. Jeff Stone

“By expanding the current property tax exemption, California is honoring the sacrifices of our veterans and providing them a way to stay in their homes,” Stone told the committee.

In 2018 California had 10,836 homeless veterans — almost 30 percent of the nation’s homeless veterans

Twelve states currently honor veterans with full property tax exemptions, according to Stone. He wants California to be the next state to do so.

“Senate Bill 364 provides a basic step in helping our veteran community,” Senator Stone told the committee.  “Veterans have sacrificed for our country and, in return, local, state and federal governments need to do everything in their power to help them succeed.”

The bill now moves to the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

You may watch his testimony on the tax relief bill here:

Senator Stone is urging all California Veterans, Veterans organizations and other interested residents to contact their State legislators to let them know they support SB 364.

Stone represents California’s 28th Senate District. The district, which is entirely in Riverside County, stretches from the vineyards of the Temecula Valley to the Colorado River and includes the cities of Blythe, Canyon Lake, Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Indio, Lake Elsinore, La Quinta, Murrieta, Temecula, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage and Wildomar.

For more information visit: www.Senate.ca.gov/Stone  or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SenatorJeffStone.

Image Sources

  • Head-photo-of-senator-stone-e1509503081535: Sen. Jeff Stone
  • Taxes: Pixaby