AB-901 • 2026

Veterans’ preferences: eligible spouses.

Labor

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Sharp-Collins
Last action: 2026-02-02
Official status: From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on the implementation timeline or the extent of job impacts.

Veterans' Preferences: Eligible Spouses

This law allows eligible spouses of active duty service members, veterans, widows or widowers of veterans, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans to receive veteran credits for selection tests related to hiring and promotions.

What This Bill Does

Revises the provision that applies to an active duty service member who achieves a passing score on an entrance exam.
Authorizes employers to grant preferences in hiring and promotion to eligible spouses of active duty service members, veterans, widows or widowers of veterans, and spouses of 100% disabled veterans.
Allows the eligible spouse of an active duty service member, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100% disabled veteran to receive appropriate credit for any selection test related to hiring and promotional preferences.

Who It Names or Affects

Active duty service member spouses
Veteran spouses
Widows or widowers of veterans
Spouses of 100% disabled veterans

Terms To Know

veterans’ preference: Extra benefits given to military veterans when applying for state jobs.
eligible spouse: A person who is legally married to an active duty service member, veteran, or 100% disabled veteran and qualifies for certain job preferences.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify when the new rules will start.
It's unclear how many jobs this change might affect.

Bill History

2026-02-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
2026-01-31 California Legislative Information
Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.
2025-04-08 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-03-10 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on M. & V.A. and P. E. & R.
2025-02-20 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
2025-02-19 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 901, as introduced, Sharp-Collins.
Veterans’ preferences: eligible spouses.
The State Civil Service Act contains various provisions providing for veterans’ credits in relation to any open competitive entrance examination. Under existing law, whenever any veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100% disabled veteran achieves a passing score on an entrance exam, that person is required to be ranked in the top rank of the resulting eligibility list.
This bill would revise that provision to also apply to an active duty service member who achieves a passing score on an entrance exam. The bill would also provide that authorizing employers may grant a preference in hiring and promotion to the eligible spouse of an active duty service member, veteran, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100% disabled veteran.
Existing law provides that any
member of the Armed Forces who successfully passes any state civil service examination, whose name is placed on an employment list, and who qualifies for veterans’ preference shall be allowed the appropriate veterans’ credit to the same effect as though that person were entitled to that credit at the time of the establishing of the employment list.
This bill would authorize the eligible spouse of an active duty service member, widow or widower of a veteran, or spouse of a 100% disabled veteran to receive the appropriate credit for any selection test generally related to hiring and promotional preferences. The bill would make other related changes to these provisions.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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