AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 7, 2026

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MARCH 18, 2026

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

97

Introduced by Assembly Members Jeff Gonzalez and Tangipa

February 20, 2026

An act to add Article 3 (commencing with Section 983) to Chapter 6 of Division 4 of the Military and Veterans Code, relating to veterans.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law establishes the Department of Veterans Affairs, which administers various programs that provide benefits to veterans, as defined, including educational assistance and farm and home purchase assistance. defined. Existing law additionally establishes a statewide system of veterans’ homes to provide room, board, and other services to eligible veterans and their spouses or domestic partners.

Existing law establishes the Department of Motor Vehicles in the Transportation Agency and sets forth various powers and duties for the department, including prescribing and providing suitable forms of applications, certificates of ownership, registration cards, driver’s licenses, and all other forms that are deemed necessary.

This bill would require the Department of Motor Vehicles, in coordination with the Department of Veterans Affairs, to provide mobile services to each veteran resident at each California veterans veterans’ home at least once per calendar year. The bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist by coordinating the scheduling, space, and outreach to residents to facilitate the provision of those services. For the purposes of these provisions, the bill would define “mobile services” as, among other things, vehicle registration services issuance or renewal of driver’s licenses and identification and Real ID application processing.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Article 3 (commencing with Section 983) is added to Chapter 6 of Division 4 of the Military and Veterans Code, to read:

Article 3. Department of Motor Vehicles Mobile Services for Veterans

983.

(a) (1) The Department of Motor Vehicles shall coordinate with the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide mobile services at each California veterans veterans’ home at least one time per calendar year.

(2) The Department of Veterans Affairs shall assist in coordinating the scheduling, space, and outreach to residents to facilitate the provision of services described in this section.

(b) Mobile services provided pursuant to this section shall be made available to any veteran that is a resident of a veterans veterans’ home.

(c) Mobile services provided pursuant to this section may include, but are not limited to, all both of the following:

(1) Issuance or renewal of driver’s licenses and identification cards.

(2) Real ID application processing.

(d) This section does not preclude the Department of Motor Vehicles from providing additional visits or services at a veterans veterans’ home when feasible.