Property tax: welfare exemption: detention facilities.

CA SB420 aims to provide a welfare exemption from property tax for certain detention facilities. This means that these facilities may not have to pay property taxes, potentially reducing their financial burden. The bill is intended to support the operation of these facilities by alleviating some of their costs.

CA SB420 is a senate bill in the California 2025-2026 Regular Session, sponsored by Jerry McNerney (D), currently “Passed” since September 29, 2026.

We track 5,060 California bills this session, 43 of them sponsored by Jerry McNerney.

The key recorded vote (Senate, August 28, 2026) ended 32–0 and passed.

Supporters of CA SB420 argue that this bill is essential for ensuring that detention facilities can operate without the heavy financial strain of property taxes. They believe that by easing these tax burdens, the bill will allow facilities to allocate more resources towards rehabilitation and support services for detainees.

Critics of CA SB420 contend that exempting detention facilities from property taxes could result in a loss of vital revenue for local governments. They argue that this could undermine public services and place an unfair tax burden on other taxpayers, while also raising concerns about prioritizing detention facilities over community needs.

Source: LegiScan roll call vote data.