Bill Sponsor
California Assembly Bill 1485
Session 20252026
Property tax: documentary transfer tax: exemptions: Native American tribes.
Active
Active
Passed Senate on Sep 11, 2025
Sponsor
First Action
Feb 21, 2025
Latest Action
Jan 29, 2026
Origin Chamber
Assembly
Type
Bill
Bill Number
1485
State
California
Session
20252026
Sponsorship by Party
Republican
Author
Democrat
Coauthor
Assembly Votes (4)
Senate Votes (4)
Summary
(1) The California Constitution authorizes the Legislature to exempt from taxation, in whole or in part, property that is used exclusively for religious, hospital, or charitable purposes, and is owned or held in trust by a nonprofit entity. Pursuant to that authority, existing law provides for a welfare exemption under which property used exclusively for an exempt purpose and owned and operated by specified entities, including foundations, limited liability companies, or corporations meeting certain statutory requirements, is exempt from taxation. Existing law, until the lien date in 2027, also provides that property used exclusively for the preservation of specified natural resources or open-space lands owned or operated by a specified entity meeting specified criteria is deemed to be included within the welfare exemption. This bill would provide that, for purposes of the exemption for property used exclusively for the preservation of specified natural resources or open-space lands, for the property tax lien dates for the 2026–27 fiscal year to the 2031–32 fiscal year, inclusive, property may be owned and operated by a federally recognized Indian tribe or a wholly owned subsidiary of a federally recognized Indian tribe meeting certain requirements. By expanding the duties of local tax officials, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law authorizes counties and cities and counties to impose a documentary transfer tax at a specified rate upon deeds, instruments, or other writings by which specified property is transferred. Existing law exempts certain transfers from the imposition of that tax, as specified. This bill would, until January 1, 2031, exempt from that tax the transfer of any deed, instrument, or other writing that makes effective a tribal land return transaction, as defined. (3) Existing law requires any bill authorizing a new tax expenditure to contain, among other things, specific goals, purposes, and objectives that the tax expenditure will achieve, detailed performance indicators, and data collection requirements. This bill would include additional information required for any bill authorizing a new tax expenditure. (4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above. (5) This bill would take effect immediately as a tax levy.
Documents (10)
01/29/2026
Assembly
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 74. Noes 0.).
09/12/2025
Assembly
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
09/11/2025
Senate
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2933.).
09/09/2025
Senate
Ordered to special consent calendar.
09/08/2025
Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
09/05/2025
Senate
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
09/02/2025
Senate
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
08/29/2025
Senate
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
08/29/2025
Senate
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 29).
08/18/2025
Senate
In committee: Referred to suspense file.
07/15/2025
Senate
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
07/14/2025
Senate
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (July 9).
06/18/2025
Senate
Referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.
06/04/2025
Senate
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
06/03/2025
Assembly
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 2005.)
05/27/2025
Assembly
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
05/23/2025
Assembly
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 23).
05/21/2025
Assembly
Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 1627.)
05/21/2025
Assembly
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
05/14/2025
Assembly
In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.
05/06/2025
Assembly
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (May 5). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
04/28/2025
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.
04/24/2025
Assembly
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on REV. & TAX. Read second time and amended.
04/07/2025
Assembly
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to REV. & TAX. suspense file.
04/02/2025
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.
04/01/2025
Assembly
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on REV. & TAX. Read second time and amended.
03/13/2025
Assembly
Referred to Com. on REV. & TAX.
02/24/2025
Assembly
Read first time.
02/22/2025
Assembly
From printer. May be heard in committee March 24.
02/21/2025
Assembly
Introduced. To print.
Sources
Record Created
Feb 22, 2025 5:55:21 AM
Record Updated
Feb 3, 2026 8:32:11 AM