Assemblymember Ramos championed the tax relief over several years
SACRAMENTO—Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino), military veterans and their families gathered today to inform retirees about a tax exemption that Ramos has championed and aimed at acknowledging the sacrifices of military retirees and making the state more veteran friendly. California was the only state without a partial or total exemption on military retiree exemptions.
Department of Defense Data reports California is home to 1.4 million veterans, and as of 2021, we had a population of 132,344 military retirees in our state and 27,600 survivors. A 2023 Assembly analysis of a previous Ramos effort in 2023, AB 46, noted, “Between 2010 and 2020 the nation’s population of military retirees has increased by 4%. California, during this period, was one of the few states that saw a reduction in the number of military retirees. California had a decline of 12% in the state’s military retiree population. During the same period, Nevada showed a gain of 10% and Arizona a gain of 6%. Both Arizona and Nevada fully exempt military retirement from state taxes.”
Ramos said, “This is a long overdue and well-deserved acknowledgement of our veterans and their families for the many sacrifices they made protecting and serving our country. Military retiree organizations, my colleagues and I have struggled for years to make this tax exemption a reality for our veterans. I thank Gov. Newsom for including it in the state budget and my colleagues in the Legislature for approving this tax relief to make California veteran friendly. We are no longer the only state without a partial or total exemption. I have championed this effort through legislative efforts for the past few years and in ongoing discussions with the governor. It is one of the proudest accomplishments of my legislative career.”
Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs, Lindsey Sin, shared “The inclusion of military retirement tax relief in the California state budget is a significant victory for our California veterans and their families. It honors their sacrifices made in service to our country, while providing essential financial relief. It’s also a win for California, encouraging more veterans to choose the Golden State as their home in retirement.”
Jeff Breiten of the Corps League- Marine Department of California Legislative Affairs Office, said, “Assemblymember Ramos was keenly aware of the fact that California’s military retiree population has experienced a steady decline dating back to 2010. California was the only state in the country that did not provide an exemption on military retirement from state income taxes. Assemblymember Ramos introduced legislation (AB 46) three years ago to exclude military retirement from state income taxes to remedy the exodus of military retirees from California to other states. After three years of strong advocacy for the tax exclusion, Assemblymember Ramos again introduced a bill (AB 53) to exclude military retirement from state income taxes in 2025. Assemblymember Ramos worked tirelessly during the 2025 legislative session with Governor Newsom’s Administration, to finally remove the stigma of California being the only state in the country that failed to provide a tax exclusion on military retirement pay.” Breiten added, “Military retirees and surviving spouses brought over $4.1 billion federal dollars into California’s economy last year.”
Also attending the celebration were Lindsey Sin, Secretary of the California Department of Veterans Affairs, Raymond Wetzel, California commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart; Jo Keller, California commander, AMVETS and David Bramblia, California Council of Chapters of the Military Officers Association of America. Kathy Prout, Gold Star Wives of America and member of the national board of directors and liaison of the Surviving Military Officers Association represented survivors. The Color Guard from the Public Safety Academy of San Bernardino also participated.
AB 53, Ramos’s latest proposal, was jointly sponsored by the American Legion-Department of California, the Marine Corps League-Department of California, the California Association of County Veteran Service Officers, California Military Officers Association of America, the Enlisted Association of the California National Guard of the United States and the California State Commanders Veterans Council.
A partial list of supporters included Vietnam Veterans of America, California, Women Veterans Alliance, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, California State Commanders Veterans Council, the California State Treasurer, California State Board of Equalization and California State Retirees.
