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California: Governor Newsom is delivering for veterans — with more opportunities, education, and support

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Nov 11, 2026

Governor Newsom is delivering for veterans — with more opportunities, education, and support

$20,000 income tax cut

Property tax cuts

Free tuition for in-state higher education

Technical support for businesses

Investing in career training

What you need to know: Under the Newsom administration, California is delivering tax cuts, expanded access to higher education, and opportunities for veterans to grow their families, careers, and businesses.

SACRAMENTO – Beyond Governor Gavin Newsom's investment in veterans' well-being and stability this Veterans Day, he reflects on the service and sacrifice of California's veterans and our responsibility to ensure that service is met with real opportunity when they come home. Under his leadership, California has lowered costs, expanded benefits, strengthened protections, and opened more pathways to education, careers, and economic security for veterans and military families.

Since taking office, Governor Newsom has worked to make California a place where veterans can save more, build on the skills they earned through service, and create a strong future for themselves and their families. California's commitment is simple: honor service not just with words, but with opportunity, security, and support for those who have sacrificed for our country.

California's veterans answered the call to serve, and we have a responsibility to stand with them when they come home. That means protecting the benefits they earned, lowering costs, and opening doors to education, careers, and opportunity.

Governor Gavin Newsom

Saving money for those who served

Governor Newsom has delivered cost savings for veterans during his administration by:

🦅Giving veterans receiving military retirement pay and families receiving payments from the federal Survivor Benefit Plan a $20,000 tax break from state income taxes.

🦅 Expanding property-tax relief for qualifying disabled veterans and surviving spouses from 2027 through 2031, including larger exemptions for eligible low-income households.

🦅Cutting local business-license fees for honorably discharged California veterans operating service businesses as sole proprietors.

🦅Cracking down on fraudulent practices targeting veterans and service members navigating the federal benefits system, strengthening California's nation-leading protections for those who served.

🦅 Ensuring military families have access to Paid Family Leave by clarifying the definition of "covered active duty" to include stateside missions, extended training, or activation as part of the National Guard or Reserve.

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Helping veterans build careers in California

California is home to more than 30 federal military installations, and the U.S. Department of Defense directly employs more than 236,000 people statewide. California is supporting this defense economy while expanding training and career opportunities for veterans.

🦅 Investing in career training. Governor Newsom's California Jobs First designated space, defense, and satellite industries as statewide economic priorities. Through Jobs First Catalyst funding, the Kern County Coalition awarded $276,000 to the Veteran and Workforce Talent Accelerator Initiative. It will expand training for transitioning service members, student veterans, and unemployed veterans in Kern County and strengthen employer partnerships in aerospace, defense, energy, and manufacturing.

🦅Expanding access to apprenticeships. The Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS) awarded more than $51 million through two rounds of Equal Representation in Construction Apprenticeship (ERiCA) grants, supporting 44 program awards for underserved populations, including veterans. As of September 30, 2026, California had 4,320 active veteran apprentices. Since 2019, 14,794 veterans have participated in DAS-registered apprenticeships.

🦅Informing economic investment. The California Military Economic Impact Study assessed the defense economy's $66 billion annual contribution. Its findings continue to guide statewide workforce, infrastructure, and investment strategies.

🦅Building on military experience. Military service can prepare veterans for a range of civilian careers. According to 2025 workforce data, California veterans work in management and professional roles, financial services and business, and service and sales industries.

🦅Supporting veteran-owned small businesses. Since the beginning of 2026, the California Office of the Small Business Advocate's (CalOSBA) Technical Assistance Program has supported 1,688 veteran-owned small businesses.

Supporting veterans and their families pursuing higher education

Through Governor Newsom's Master Plan for Career Education, California is making it easier for veterans, service members, and other Californians to turn skills they already have into college credit. A $35 million statewide initiative is expanding Credit for Prior Learning so military training, service corps experience, and other prior learning can count toward a degree or credential.

The initiative set a goal of serving 30,000 veterans. California has already surpassed that milestone, with more than 31,000 veterans served through Credit for Prior Learning, helping Californians translate their skills and knowledge into real progress toward a degree or career.

During his administration, Governor Newsom has helped veterans and their families pursue higher education after service by:

🦅 Waiving tuition fees at California public colleges and universities for children and spouses of qualified veterans, including those who are disabled, deceased, or 100% service-disabled.

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🦅Expanding access to education by granting priority enrollment at California Community Colleges, California State Universities, or the University of California to students relying on the CalVet College Fee Waiver or the federal GI Bill to ensure they can complete their degrees efficiently and fully utilize these benefits.

🦅 Extending eligibility for in-state tuition for dependents returning to a public higher education institution to finish their degree, even if the Armed Forces member has been transferred out of state or has retired from active duty.

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