During a military family’s service while stationed in California, the military spouse often becomes vital to the California workforce, bringing skills needed for high-demand professions. Teaching is a perfect example of a job where a military spouse helps our state while remaining fully employed in their chosen career. Unfortunately, teacher credentialling differences between states often prevent military spouses from entering their chosen profession in California simply and quickly. The Teacher Mobility Compact will help strengthen and streamline access to this profession for military spouses. At the same time, having military spouses employed as teachers will help in a small way with our teacher shortfall in California, while the Compact ensures the highest licensing standards are maintained. Support SB 811 by urging California Assembly Education Committee members to take action today!

During a military family’s service while stationed in California, the military spouse becomes a vital part of the California workforce, often bringing skills we need for high-demand professions. In California, it usually takes two incomes for military families to make ends meet, and enabling a military spouse to be fully employed in their chosen profession benefits the family, the community, and our state. Because military families are highly mobile and are reassigned to a new duty station every few years, barriers to licensure mobility result in undue hardships. The Cosmetology Licensure Compact will improve licensure mobility without sacrificing credentialing standards.

Several California military communities have taken advantage of the federal Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP), which provides funding for Department of Defense infrastructure projects that benefit military installations and the surrounding communities. However, many communities are unable to meet the matching funding requirement. AB 444 closes the funding gap by creating the California DCIP and prioritizing disadvantaged communities.

All Californians are feeling the effects of rising housing costs. As home to nearly one-quarter of the nation’s homeless veterans, action must be taken in California to support veterans in the current housing crisis. SB 726 provides additional help to veteran homeowners with a 100 percent disability rating by expanding the disabled veterans’ option to allow for a higher property tax exemption. Several states, including Florida, Texas, Virginia, New Mexico, and Hawaii, already exempt property taxes for 100 percent disabled veterans. California must honor disabled veterans’ bravery and commitment to our nation, assisting those struggling with California’s high cost of living.

California is home to approximately 184,00 women veterans who suffer higher rates of suicide, PTSD, and other Mental health challenges. Female veterans who honorably served our country deserve proper care and attention from their home state. AB 718 ensures that the mental health challenges facing women veterans of California are fully researched, ensuring they receive the proper services, support networks, and prevention tools.