CA SB73

Authorizes private employers in California to establish and maintain a written veterans' preference employment policy that gives preference to hiring veterans over other qualified applicants, applied uniformly to all hiring decisions.

Requires employers with veterans' preference policies to annually report to the Civil Rights Department the number of veterans hired and demographic information about those veterans, with failure to report rendering the preference ineligible for legal protections.

Deems the granting of veterans' preference to not violate state or local equal employment opportunity laws, including the California Fair Employment and Housing Act's antidiscrimination provisions.

Directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to assist private employers in verifying applicant veteran status and prohibits veterans' preference policies from being used to unlawfully discriminate based on protected classifications.

Requires the Civil Rights Department to report hiring data and discrimination claims related to veterans' preference policies to specified legislative committees by July 1, 2026 and July 1, 2028; repeals these provisions on January 1, 2029.