East SBV Times

Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) has announced that Governor Newsom has signed Senate Bill 1186, which authorizes any state, county, district, or citrus fruit fair to waive admission charges for military personnel out of uniform.

“On behalf of our community and our dedicated service members, I extend my gratitude for all of the support SB 1186 received,” said Senator Ochoa Bogh. “This legislation ensures that all military personnel, regardless of uniform, can enjoy our state, county, and district fairs with the dignity and comfort they deserve. It is a small token of gratitude. This legislature’s commitment to honoring their service is deeply appreciated.”

Current law authorizes state, county, and district fairs to waive admission for specified persons, including military personnel in uniform. Unfortunately, not all military personnel are authorized to wear their uniforms in public.

For example, according to the Marine Corps Uniform Regulations, Marines are not allowed to wear their combat utility uniforms (i.e., “cammies”) out in public. While Marines are authorized to wear specified variations of their dress blue uniforms in public, the full dress blue uniform (i.e., cap, coat, belt, trousers, shoes) costs over $450 for enlisted members and over $1,000 for officers at the Marine Corps Exchange (MCX).

In addition to cost pressures, service members may hesitate to wear their uniforms in public due to safety concerns or weather conditions. During the 2023 California State Fair, the temperature reached a record high of 109 degrees. The heat was so intense that officials canceled the horse races, likely contributing to the 9% drop in attendance from the previous year.

“The American Legion extends its heartfelt gratitude to Senator Ochoa Bogh and Governor Newsom for their support of SB 1186,” said Don Harper, Chair of the Legislative Commission for the American Legion Department of California. “This important legislation ensures that all military personnel and veterans will receive free admission to state, county, district and citrus fruit fairs. By recognizing and honoring the service of our military and veteran communities this bill stands as a testament to our collective appreciation for their sacrifices. We thank both the bill’s author and the Governor for their commitment to supporting our heroes.”

SB 1186 removes attendance barriers and ensures all military personnel can enjoy fairs in comfort.