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AB-1775 • 2026

Veterans.

Veterans.

Budget Education Housing
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Ward
Last action
2026-04-07
Official status
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not provide specific details on the funding amounts or implementation timelines, leaving these aspects uncertain.

Help for Veterans

This law helps veterans by making it easier for them to get professional licenses, improving the Veteran’s Military Discharge Upgrade Grant Program, and creating a new program to support housing needs.

What This Bill Does

  • Makes it quicker and easier for veterans who were honorably discharged or received a discharge solely as a result of a specified executive order to get professional licenses.
  • Changes the Veteran's Military Discharge Upgrade Grant Program so that service providers must offer free education about discharge upgrades and assistance in filing applications.
  • Requires the program to prioritize veterans whose less than honorable discharges are linked to mental health issues, traumatic brain injuries, sexual assault or harassment, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
  • Creates a new Veteran's Housing and Supportive Services Grant Program that funds service providers who offer free housing support for veterans being discharged from service.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Veterans seeking professional licenses
  • Service providers helping veterans with discharge upgrades or housing needs

Terms To Know

Executive Order
A directive issued by the President or a Governor that has the force of law.
Discharge Upgrade
Improving the status of a military discharge from less than honorable to more favorable.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill needs funding from the Legislature to fully implement its programs.
  • It does not specify how much money will be given for these new grant programs.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-07 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 16. Noes 0.) (April 7). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  2. 2026-04-07 California Legislative Information

    Coauthors revised.

  3. 2026-03-25 California Legislative Information

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.

  4. 2026-02-23 California Legislative Information

    Referred to Com. on M. & V.A.

  5. 2026-02-10 California Legislative Information

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 12.

  6. 2026-02-09 California Legislative Information

    Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 1775, as introduced, Ward.
Veterans.
Existing law establishes the Department of Consumer Affairs under the direction of the Director of Consumer Affairs and sets forth its powers and duties relating to the administration of the various boards under its jurisdiction that license and regulate various professions and vocations. Existing law requires those boards to expedite, and authorizes them to assist, the initial licensure process for an applicant who supplies satisfactory evidence to the board that the applicant has served as an active duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States and was honorably discharged.
This bill would extend that requirement and authorization to also include members who were discharged or received a discharge solely as a result of a specified executive order. The bill would make additional conforming changes.
Existing law requires the department, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature, to establish the Veteran’s Military Discharge Upgrade Grant Program to help fund service providers who, for free or at low cost, will educate veterans about discharge upgrades and assist veterans in filing discharge upgrade applications, as specified. Existing law authorizes the department to prioritize veteran recipients of the services, such as prioritizing those who are able to demonstrate their less than honorable characterization of service was connected to a mental health condition, traumatic brain injury, sexual assault or harassment, or sexual orientation.
This bill would instead require the program to help fund service providers who will educate veterans on the above-described services at no cost. The bill would additionally require the department to prioritize veteran recipients who are able to demonstrate that their less than
honorable characterization of service was connected to a mental health condition, traumatic brain injury, sexual assault or harassment, or sexual orientation or who are able to demonstrate their characterization of service was connected to gender identity.
This bill would additionally require the department, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature, to establish the Veteran’s Housing and Supportive Services Grant Program to help fund service providers who, for at no cost, will provide housing supports for veterans being discharged from service. The bill would require the department to develop criteria, procedures, and accountability measures as may be necessary to implement the grant program, and to prioritize veteran recipients who are able to demonstrate their less than honorable characterization of service was connected to a mental health condition, traumatic brain injury, sexual assault or harassment, or sexual orientation or who are able to demonstrate
their characterization of service was connected to gender identity.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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