Action Alert: Call in to the Senate hearing on Thursday; express your support for SB 668

Dear HJTA members and supporters,

On Thursday, May 6, the Senate Governance and Finance Committee will consider Senate Bill 668. This legislation is sponsored by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and authored by Senator Patricia Bates (Laguna Niguel). HJTA’s legislative director, Scott Kaufman, is scheduled to testify at the hearing in person to tell lawmakers about the urgent importance of this bill.

SB 668 will give families more time to plan for transfers of property. Under Proposition 19, narrowly passed in November, property that is transferred from parents to children will be reassessed to market value as of the date of transfer, with only narrow exceptions. This new “inheritance tax” took effect on February 16.

SB 668 would move the effective date of these rules to February 2023, a reasonable accommodation to families that were unable to meet with tax planners or attorneys, or even other family members, during the pandemic. 

We are asking all HJTA members and supporters to call in to the hearing, if possible, to express support for SB 668. 

Here’s how to call in, listen to the hearing and express your support.

Note: We do not know the exact time that the committee meeting will start; it is scheduled for immediately after the conclusion of the floor session. You can check the Senate committee website on Thursday for the latest updates.

To call in: Use any phone to dial in to the participant number: 877-226-8152. The access code is 1174771. (This information is also on the Senate committee website.) 

When you call in, you will be placed in a “waiting room.” The moderator will mute your phone and you will hear the audio of the committee hearing. When the committee moves to “public comment,” the moderator will ask for anyone who wishes to testify in “SUPPORT” of the bill to please press 1-0 (the number one followed by the number zero). Be sure to press 1-0 only when the “SUPPORT” position is asked for, because the same numbers will be used when the moderator asks if anyone wishes to testify in opposition. Important: Only press 1-0 once; if you press it a second time you’ll remove yourself from the queue of callers and you’ll need to press 1-0 again to get back in line.

After you press 1-0 on your phone, there will be a brief wait and then an operator will assign you a line number for identification. When the moderator calls your number, it will be your turn to testify. Be sure you haven’t muted your phone so you can be heard. All you have to say is your name and that you support SB 668. It’s easy!

You can also watch the hearing on the Senate Governance and Finance Committee website at sgf.senate.ca.gov.  Click the link that says “watch” to see the hearing.

Questions about the call-in system? Click here for the Senate’s complete "Teleconference Instructions."

The committee will also hear other bills, including SB 706, which clarifies the definition of “change of ownership” when entities such as corporations buy property. This bill is also authored by Sen. Patricia Bates, and HJTA is pleased to support it.

If you’re not able to watch or listen to the hearing on Thursday, you can help by calling your state representatives and urging them to support SB 668 to give families more time to plan for costly and complicated property transfers. Look up your representatives’ names and contact information at http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov, or find the full list of state lawmakers here: 

https://www.senate.ca.gov/senators

https://www.assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers

Thank you for making your voice heard in the State Capitol! We greatly appreciate you.

Sincerely,

Jon Coupal, President
HJTA