California Association Of Veteran Service Agencies

Each year, CAVSA actively tracks and monitors legislation impacting veterans. During our annual Lobby Day in June, we conducted 17 meetings with legislators, staff, and consultants to address priority issues such as mental health, housing, and support services. Our advocacy team continues to position CAVSA as a leading voice on veteran issues with the legislature and state agencies, striving to be a trusted resource for information and data.In 2024 two of CAVSAs priority bills were signed into law and CAVSA was also presented with a Resolution on the Assembly Floor. Much of our focus was on the passage of Proposition 1. a.HR 104 (Reyes) Relative to Veterans.The Legislature declared June as California Veterans Awareness Month and gave recognition to the work veteran service providers are doing statewide. The resolution specifically identified the work of CAVSA agencies in serving veterans in California.b.SB 1025 (Eggman) Pretrial Diversion for Veterans.This bill includes certain felony offenses in the pretrial diversion program for veterans if their condition significantly contributed to the crime, requiring courts to make this determination unless there is clear evidence otherwise. It mandates counties to coordinate services for these veterans, creating a local program. c.AB 535 (Schiavo) Veterans Aid and Welfare: HousingChanges the definition of a secondary tenant to a homeless veteran with an income up to 60% of the area's median income, regardless of disability benefits. It also prohibits considering service-connected disability benefits when determining eligibility.d.Proposition 1 (2024)CAVSA members and our allies worked with the Legislature on the two-bill package, Senate Bill (SB) 326 (Eggman) and Assembly Bill (AB) 531 (Irwin) that first proposed statewide efforts to reform and expand California's behavioral health system. California voters then approved the Behavioral Health Infrastructure Bond Act which allocates $1.065 billion to housing projects specifically for veterans with behavioral health conditions. Before passage, Governor Newsom said, "California veterans have given everything for our freedom often at extraordinary cost to themselves, Proposition 1 is for them." The executive agencies handling the next steps are holding to Governor Newsom promise.