Assembly BillIntroducedPublic Resources
AB 1702: State park system: admission: veterans and military personnel.
What AB 1702 does, verified May 16, 2026
This bill aims to provide benefits to veterans and military personnel in California state parks. Currently, veterans can receive a free park pass if they provide proof of a disability, being a prisoner of war, or a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, along with an honorable discharge. The bill would eliminate the requirement for a veteran to be a "veteran of war". Additionally, the bill would introduce a 15% discount pass for veterans and military personnel to use all state park facilities.
Bill journey
1IntroducedCurrent
2In CommitteePending
3First Chamber FloorPending
4Second ChamberPending
5GovernorPending
6ChapteredPending
Last action: In committee: Held under submission. (2026-05-14)Alert me
Author and sponsors
Full contact details, staff, and committees with Connect, $16/moUnlockRecent actions8 total · showing 5
| May. 14, 2026 | In committee: Held under submission. |
| Apr. 29, 2026 | In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file. |
| Apr. 15, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR. |
| Mar. 24, 2026 | From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on M. & V.A. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (March 24). Re-referred to Com. on M. & V.A. |
| Mar. 24, 2026 | Coauthors revised. |
Latest bill textIntroduced version, February 4, 2026 · 601 words
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 1702
| Introduced by Assembly Member Johnson |
February 04, 2026 |
An act to amend Section 5011.5 of, and to add Section 5011.8 to, the Public Resources Code, relating to parks.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1702, as introduced, Johnson. State park system: admission: veterans and military personnel.
(1) Existing law requires the Department of Parks and Recreation to issue a park pass for free use of all park facilities in the state park system to a veteran of war in which the United States has been, or may be, engaged, who is a resident of this state, who presents to the department proof of a disability, proof of being held captive as a prisoner of war, or proof of being a recipient of a Congressional Medal of Honor, and proof of an honorable discharge from service.
This bill would eliminate from the eligibility requirements for this pass that a veteran be a veteran of war.
(2) Existing law authorizes the department to offer to a veteran or current active duty or reserve military personnel for the United States Armed Forces or the National Guard of any state a reduced fee or free day use of California state parks, as provided, on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, if proper proof of military service is provided, as specified.
This bill would require the department to issue a discount pass entitling the bearer to 15% off the cost to use all facilities in the state park system to these veterans and military personnel, as provided.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 5011.5 of the Public Resources Code is amended to read:5011.5.
(a) A veteran(b) As used in this section: section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Veteran” means a former member of the Armed Forces of the United States who has a 50 percent or greater service-connected disability, or who was held as a prisoner of war by forces hostile to the United States, as certified by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and who was honorably discharged from service.
(2) “War” means that period of time commencing when Congress declares war or when the Armed Forces of the United States are engaged in active military operations against a foreign power, whether or not war has been formally declared, and ending upon the termination of hostilities as proclaimed by the President of the United States.
SEC. 2.
Section 5011.8 is added to the Public Resources Code, to read:5011.8.
A veteran, as defined in Section 980 of the Military and Veterans Code, or an active or reserve duty member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard of any state, upon presentation to the department of proof of their active or reserve duty status or proof of honorable discharge from service, shall be issued a discount pass entitling the bearer to 15 percent off the cost to use all facilities, including boat launching facilities, in units of the state park system.Text of AB 1702 as introduced, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions