PR 26-98 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 29, 2026 |
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Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., Assigns Numbers to November Ballot Measures, Invites Ballot Arguments
Sacramento, Calif. – Secretary
of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., assigned proposition numbers today to
the legislative and initiative measures set to appear on the November
3, 2026, General Election ballot. Secretary Weber also invited
interested Californians to submit arguments to be considered for
inclusion in the Official Voter Information Guide. The guide is mailed
to every voting household in California and posted on the Secretary of
State’s website.
The
propositions are listed below, along with the Legislative Counsel’s
digest or the Attorney General’s official circulating title and summary.
Proposition 1
SB 417 (Chapter 16, Statutes of 2026) Limón. The Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026.
Under
existing law, there are programs providing assistance for, among other
things, emergency housing, multifamily housing, farmworker housing,
home ownership for very low and low-income households, and downpayment
assistance for first-time home buyers. Existing law also authorizes the
issuance of bonds in specified amounts pursuant to the State General
Obligation Bond Law and requires that proceeds from the sale of these
bonds be used to finance various existing housing programs, capital
outlay related to infill development, brownfield cleanup that promotes
infill development, and housing-related parks. Existing law, the
Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2018, authorized, the
issuance of bonds in the amount of $4,000,000,000 to finance various
existing housing programs, as well as infill infrastructure financing
and affordable housing matching grant programs, as well as financing
for a specified program for farm, home, and mobilehome purchase
assistance for veterans, pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond
Law.
This
bill would enact the Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026,
which, if adopted, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount
of $11,250,000,000, pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law.
Of the proceeds from the sale of these bonds, $10,000,000,000 would be
used to finance programs to fund affordable rental housing and home
ownership programs, including, among others, the Multifamily Housing
Program, the CalHome Program, and the Joe Serna, Jr. Farmworker Housing
Grant Program, and $1,250,000,000 would be used to provide additional
funding for the above-described program for farm, home, and mobilehome
purchase assistance for veterans, as provided.
This
bill would provide for submission of the bond act to the voters at the
November 3, 2026, statewide general election, in accordance with
specified law.
This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.
Proposition 2
ACA 20 (Resolution Chapter 130, Statutes of 2026) Gabriel. Save for California’s Future Act.
(1)
The California Constitution establishes the Budget Stabilization
Account and requires the Controller to transfer from the General Fund
to the account, no later than October 1 of each fiscal year, a sum
equal to 1.5% of the estimated amount of General Fund revenues for that
fiscal year. The Department of Finance is required to report specified
information to the Legislature, including (A) an estimate of the amount
of General Fund proceeds of taxes that may be appropriated for that
fiscal year, (B) an estimate of the portion of that amount that is
derived from personal income taxes paid on net capital gains, and (C)
the portion of the estimate in (B) that exceeds 8% of the estimate made
in (A). Notwithstanding the requirement for the Controller to transfer
1.5% of General Fund revenues for each fiscal year to the account, for
the 2015–16 fiscal year to the 2029–30 fiscal year, inclusive, the
California Constitution instead requires 50% of that amount and 50% of
the amount described in (C) to be transferred to the Budget
Stabilization Account. The California Constitution requires the
remaining 50% to be appropriated for unfunded liabilities and other
specified purposes.
Commencing
with the 2027–28 fiscal year, this measure would require the Department
of Finance to report the sum of the portion of the estimate in (B) that
exceeds 8%, but does not exceed 10%, of the estimate in (A) and 150% of
the estimate in (B) that exceeds 10% of the estimate in (A). The
measure would require 50% of that sum and 50% of the amount equal to
1.5% of the estimated amount of General Fund revenues for the fiscal
year to be transferred to the Budget Stabilization Account each fiscal
year until the 2039–40 fiscal year, and it would require the remaining
50% to be appropriated for unfunded liabilities and other specified
purposes. The measure would add repayment of federal loans relating to
unemployment insurance to the purposes for which the remaining 50% may
be appropriated.
The
California Constitution limits the amount that is required to be
transferred to the Budget Stabilization Account for any fiscal year
from exceeding an amount that would result in a balance in the account
that, when the transfer is made, exceeds 10% of the estimated amount of
the General Fund proceeds of taxes for the fiscal year, as specified.
This measure would increase that limit to 20% of the estimated amount of the General Fund proceeds of taxes for the fiscal year.
(2)
The California Constitution creates the Public School System
Stabilization Account in the General Fund and requires the Controller
to transfer specified amounts from the General Fund to the account.
Upon a proclamation by the Governor declaring a budget emergency, the
Legislature may suspend or reduce transfers to the Budget Stabilization
Account or Public School System Stabilization Account, return funds in
the Budget Stabilization Account to the General Fund, and appropriate
funds in the Public School System Stabilization Account for the support
of school districts and community college districts. The California
Constitution defines “budget emergency” for these purposes to mean (A)
the existence of conditions of disaster or extreme peril, as declared
by the Governor, or (B) a determination by the Governor that estimated
resources are inadequate to fund General Fund expenditures for the
current or ensuing fiscal year at a level equal to the highest amount
of total General Fund expenditures estimated at the time of enactment
of any of the three most recent Budget Acts.
The
California Constitution requires the Governor, within the first 10 days
of each calendar year, to submit to the Legislature a proposed budget
for the fiscal year commencing on July 1 of that calendar year. Under
existing statutory law, the Director of Finance is required to submit a
revised budget proposal to the Legislature on or before May 14.
Under
this measure, the revised budget proposal submitted on or before May
14, or any other budgetary revision required to be submitted to the
Legislature, would constitute the Governor’s proclamation of a budget
emergency if the above-described conditions for a budget emergency
exist, and if the budgetary revision proposes to suspend or reduce
transfers from the General Fund to the Budget Stabilization Account or
Public School System Stabilization Account, return funds in the Budget
Stabilization Account to the General Fund, or appropriate money from
the Public School System Stabilization Account.
(3)
The California Constitution prohibits the total annual appropriations
subject to limitation of the State and of each local government from
exceeding the appropriations limit of the entity of government for the
prior year, adjusted for the change in the cost of living and the
change in population. The California Constitution defines
“appropriations subject to limitation” of the State for these purposes.
This
measure would exclude both of the following from the appropriations
subject to limitation of the State commencing with the 2027–28 fiscal
year: (A) transfers to the Budget Stabilization Account; and (B)
transfers to a General Fund reserve account established by the
Legislature known as the Projected Surplus Temporary Holding Account,
provided that the amount not subject to limitation may not exceed 10%
of the amount of General Fund proceeds of taxes for the applicable
fiscal year. Funds withdrawn, transferred, or appropriated from those
reserve accounts, if they were not counted previously as appropriations
subject to limitation of the State when deposited, would constitute
appropriations subject to limitation of the State in the fiscal year in
which the withdrawal, transfer, or appropriation occurs.
Proposition 3
PROVIDES PERMANENT FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS AND HEALTHCARE BY EXTENDING EXISTING TAX ON HIGH INCOMES. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Makes
permanent the existing 2012 voter-approved tax rates for high-income
Californians, currently set to expire in 2031. Rates apply to personal
income over about $360,000 for single filers, $721,000 for joint
filers, and $490,000 for heads of household (2024 levels; adjusted
annually for inflation). Allocates tax revenues 89% to K-12 schools,
11% to community colleges. Allows local school boards to decide how
revenues are spent; bars use for administrative costs. Increases
General Fund revenues available for education, healthcare, budget
reserves, and other programs. Summary of estimate by Legislative
Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local
governments: Maintains
$5 billion to $15 billion of annual state income taxes (in today’s
dollars) by making a tax on high income earners permanent instead of
letting it expire in 2031. (25-0016.)
Proposition 4
SB 42 (Chapter 245, Statutes of 2025) Umberg. Political Reform Act of 1974: public campaign financing: California Fair Elections Act of 2026.
Existing
law, the Political Reform Act of 1974, prohibits a public officer from
expending, and a candidate from accepting, public moneys for the
purpose of seeking elective office.
This
bill would remove prohibitions imposed on a public officer or candidate
to expend or accept public funds, as defined, for the purpose of
seeking elective office unless the funds are earmarked by a state or
local entity for education, transportation, or public safety. The bill
would require candidates to abide by specified expenditure limits and
meet strict criteria, as defined, to qualify for public funds. The bill
would prohibit public funds from being used to pay legal defense fees
or fines or to repay personal loans to their campaign. The bill would
permit a statute, ordinance, or charter to establish standards to
increase the expenditure limits for each qualified, voluntarily
participating candidate pursuant to a specified formula. The bill would
provide that the Fair Political Practices Commission is not responsible
for administering or enforcing a system of public funding of candidates
established by a local governmental agency.
Existing
law prohibits a foreign government or foreign principal, as defined,
from making a contribution, expenditure, or independent expenditure in
connection with the qualification or support of, or opposition to, any
state or local ballot measure or in connection with the election of a
candidate to state or local office. Under existing law, a person who
violates this prohibition is guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to a
fine equal to the amount contributed or expended.
This
bill would instead require that a person guilty of that misdemeanor, in
addition to other penalties, be fined an amount at least equal to the
amount contributed or expended, but not exceeding a maximum amount of 3
times the amount contributed or expended.
The
Political Reform Act of 1974, an initiative measure, provides that the
act may be amended by a statute that becomes effective upon approval of
the voters.
This
bill would require the Secretary of State to submit the provisions of
the bill, as specified, to the voters for approval at the November 3,
2026, statewide general election. This bill would incorporate
additional changes to Section 85320 of the Government Code proposed by
AB 953 to be operative pursuant to specified conditions.
Proposition 5
SCA 1 (Resolution Chapter 204, Statutes of 2024) Newman. Elections: recall of state officers.
The
California Constitution provides that voters may recall a state officer
by majority vote and, in the same election, elect a successor with a
plurality of the vote. The Constitution prohibits an officer who is the
subject of a recall election from being a candidate for successor.
The
Constitution provides that the Lieutenant Governor becomes Governor
when a vacancy occurs in the office of Governor, and requires the
Lieutenant Governor to act as Governor during the impeachment, absence
from the state, or other temporary disability of the Governor or of a
Governor-elect who fails to take office. When a recall of the Governor
is initiated, the Constitution requires the Lieutenant Governor to
perform the recall duties of the Governor. The Constitution requires
the Governor to fill vacancies in certain judicial and executive
offices by appointment, as specified.
This
measure would eliminate the successor election for a recalled state
officer and instead provide, in the event an officer is removed in a
recall election, that the office will remain vacant until it is filled
in accordance with the Constitution and statute. The measure would
repeal the prohibition against the officer subject to the recall being
a candidate to fill the office in a special election, but would
prohibit the appointment of the officer subject to the recall election
to fill the vacancy.
If
the Governor is removed from office in a recall election, this measure
would provide that the Lieutenant Governor will become Governor for the
remainder of the unexpired term. If the Governor is removed from office
by recall before the close of the nomination period for the next
statewide election during the first two years of the Governor’s term,
the measure would provide for a special election to be held to replace
the Governor for the remainder of the unexpired term, to be
consolidated with the next statewide primary election and, if
necessary, the subsequent statewide general election. The measure would
require the Secretary of State to perform the recall duties of the
Governor when a recall of the Governor is initiated. The measure would
require the Controller to perform the recall duties of the Governor and
Secretary of State if recalls of those two officers are initiated at
the same time.
If adopted by the Legislature, the measure would appear on the ballot at the
November 3, 2026, statewide general election.
Proposition 37
CREATES LOAN PROGRAM FOR MIDDLE-INCOME BUYERS OF QUALIFIED NEW HOMES. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Authorizes
up to $25 billion in bonds to offer eligible buyers fixed-rate
mortgages for up to 17% of the purchase price of a “qualified new home”
(new construction or first sale of converted nonresidential property,
priced below about $1 million–$1.5 million, depending on county,
adjusted annually). Borrowers must be California residents for one
year, plan to occupy the home, earn less than 200% of area median
income, and pay at least 3% down. Requires that bonds be repaid by
homeowners’ mortgage payments, not State. Summary of estimate by
Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state
and local governments: No direct state or local costs. (25-0013A1)
Proposition 38
AUTHORIZES BONDS FOR IMMUNOLOGY RESEARCH. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Authorizes
$8.4 billion in state general obligation bonds for immunology and
immunotherapy research (technologies that use body’s immune system to
treat disease), allocated equally between (1) a University of
California-affiliated nonprofit medical research institute selected by
the California Department of Public Health based on specified criteria,
and (2) a grant program for public or nonprofit universities and
institutions. Requires half of research money go to cancer, heart
disease, and Alzheimer’s disease research. Requires funding recipients
to sell technology and drugs derived from research in California for
20% below national average price. Appropriates money from General Fund
to repay bonds. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director
of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Increased
state costs of about $500 million annually for 25 years to repay the
bonds. The state could recoup part or all of this cost in subsequent
decades if the funded research leads to discoveries that generate
revenue, though this is uncertain.
(25-0026A1.)
Proposition 39
ESTABLISHES ADDITIONAL VOTER IDENTIFICATION AND CITIZENSHIP VERIFICATION REQUIREMENTS. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Under
current law, when registering to vote, individuals must state under
penalty of perjury that they are United States citizens and provide
information to verify their identity (e.g., birthdate, driver’s license
or Social Security number). This measure would amend the California
Constitution to further require that:- voters
present government-issued identification at the polls or the last four
digits of a government-issued identification number when voting by mail;
- the State provide voter identification cards on request; and
- elections officials annually report percentage of each county’s voters whose citizenship they have verified.
Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: One-time
state and local government costs in the tens of millions of dollars to
prepare for implementation of the measure. Increased annual state and
local government costs potentially ranging in the tens of millions of
dollars to the low hundreds of millions of dollars to fulfill new
requirements related to elections administration. (25-0007A1.)
Proposition 40
IMPOSES ONE-TIME TAX ON CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS AND TRUSTS. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE. Imposes
one-time tax of up to 5% on taxpayers and trusts with covered assets
valued over $1 billion; covered assets include businesses, securities,
art, collectibles, and intellectual property, but exclude real property
and some pensions and retirement accounts. Allocates 90% of these tax
revenues for health care, 10% for food assistance or education-related
programs; prohibits using revenues to replace existing funding for
these purposes. Exempts such tax revenues from constitutional
requirements for school funding, budget reserves, and state spending
limit. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of
Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Temporary
increase in state revenues from a new tax on the wealth of
billionaires. These wealth tax revenues probably would add up to tens
of billions of dollars spread over several years. Likely ongoing
decrease in state income tax revenues of hundreds of millions of
dollars or more per year. (25-0024A1.)
Proposition 41
REQUIRES
AUDITS OF PROGRAMS FUNDED BY NEW STATE SPECIAL TAXES. PROHIBITS NEW
STATE TAXES THAT ARE EXCLUDED FROM EXISTING VOTER-APPROVED STATE
SPENDING LIMIT. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. For
statewide special taxes, requires (1) a pre-election audit of programs
that would receive funding from a special tax proposed by voter
initiative, and (2) recurring audits of programs funded by all special
taxes enacted after January 1, 2026. Prohibits any new state taxes,
enacted after January 1, 2026, that exclude their revenues from
existing voter-approved state spending limit, including any new taxes
that appear on the same ballot as this measure. Summary of estimate by
Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state
and local governments: Unknown Fiscal Effect. Net
costs or savings resulting from the measure would depend on (1) how
many special tax initiatives qualify for a one-time audit but are not
approved by voters, (2) the number of pages that are added to the Voter
Information Guide each election cycle, and (3) the level of savings
that are identified and implemented as a result of the audits. (25-0040A1.)
Proposition 42
PROHIBITS NEW STATE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES AND CERTAIN RETROACTIVE STATE TAXES. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Prohibits
any new state tax that either (1) taxes the ownership or control of
personal property (including retirement accounts, financial assets,
investment accounts, business interests, and intellectual property), or
(2) applies retroactively based on the taxpayer’s conduct, activities,
or a status that occurred before the new tax’s effective date, with
limited exceptions. Applies to taxes that are enacted or take effect on
or after January 1, 2026, including taxes that appear on the same
ballot as this measure. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and
Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments:
Possibility that tax revenues will be lower in the future. (25-0041A1.)
Proposition 43
ACA 22 (Resolution Chapter 132, Statutes of 2026) Wicks. Local taxes: limitation.
The California Constitution conditions the imposition of a special tax by a local government upon the approval of 2/3 of
the voters of the local government voting on that tax, and prohibits
these entities from imposing an ad valorem tax on real property or a
transactions or sales tax on the sale of real property.
The
Supreme Court of California interpreted this provision and other
provisions restricting the authority of local governments to impose,
extend, or increase taxes as not restricting the authority of voters to
impose taxes via initiative.
This
measure would, beginning January 1, 2027, prohibit a local government,
including the electorate of a local government exercising the
initiative power, from imposing, extending, or increasing any special
tax, except as provided, unless and until that tax is submitted to the
electorate and approved by a 2/3 vote.
The measure would prohibit a local government, including the electorate
of a local government exercising the initiative power, from imposing ad
valorem taxes on real property, except as provided pursuant to
specified constitutional provisions.
Proposition 44
REQUIRES COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINICS SPEND 90% OF REVENUE ON PROGRAM SERVICES. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Requires
nonprofit Federally Qualified Health Centers (community clinics that
provide primary care to medically underserved areas and populations) to
spend at least 90% of their revenue on program services advancing their
charitable purpose, including but not limited to patient services,
rather than management and overhead. Department of Public Health may
waive spending requirement in exceptional circumstances. Authorizes
Attorney General to publish guidance defining qualifying expenditures.
Imposes monetary penalties for noncompliance, which may be refunded if
centers become compliant within five years. Authorizes criminal charges
for false reports and schemes to artificially increase spending ratio.
Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of
fiscal impact on state and local governments: State
cost of up to the low tens of millions of dollars annually to enforce
the new requirement that nonprofit safety net health clinics spend at
least 90 percent of annual revenue on certain types of expenses, much
of which would be covered by fees and penalties charged on the affected
entities. (25-0008A1)
Proposition 45
MODIFIES ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FOR CERTAIN PROJECTS. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Amends
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to expedite environmental
review of specified project categories (including most housing,
transportation, water, health, and clean energy projects). For these
types of projects, this measure:- sets deadlines for public agencies to complete environmental review and take required actions for project;
- allows
expedited review of project’s environmental impacts, limiting public
agencies’ current obligation to consider a range of feasible project
alternatives to reduce environmental impacts; and
- limits
court review of project approvals by establishing deadlines for filing
and resolving lawsuits and limiting evidence court may consider and
relief it can order.
Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: State
and local government implementation costs in the tens of millions of
dollars annually for the first several years. Over the long term, the
annual net fiscal effects are uncertain, but state and local
governments likely would experience net savings due to reduced
administrative and legal workload. Net fiscal effects on state trial
courts ranging from annual savings of up to the tens of millions of
dollars to annual costs of up to the low tens of millions of dollars. (25-0023A1.)
Ballot Arguments
Arguments
may be submitted for or against the measures. Arguments selected for
the Official Voter Information Guide will be on public display between
July 21 and
August
10. If multiple arguments are submitted for a proposition, state law
gives first priority to arguments written by legislators in the case of
legislative measures and to proponents of an initiative or referendum;
subsequent priority goes to bona fide citizen associations and then to
individuals. No more than three signers are allowed to appear on an
argument or rebuttal to an argument.
Ballot
arguments cannot exceed 500 words and rebuttals to ballot arguments
cannot exceed 250 words. All submissions should be typed and
double-spaced. Arguments may be hand-delivered to the Secretary of
State’s Elections Division at 1500 11th Street, 5th Floor, Sacramento,
California 95814; faxed to (916) 653-3214; or emailed to VIGarguments@sos.ca.gov.
If faxed or emailed, the original documents must be received within 72
hours. The deadline to submit ballot arguments is July 7 by 5:00 p.m.
The deadline to submit rebuttals to the ballot arguments is July 16 by
5:00 p.m.
Candidate Statements
Secretary
Weber also invited candidate statements for inclusion in the Official
Voter Information Guide. The top two candidates for a statewide
constitutional office may buy space for a 250-word candidate statement
in the voter guide.
The deadline to submit candidate statements to the Secretary of State’s office is July 15 by 5:00 p.m.
Candidates
for the United States House of Representatives or state legislative
office may purchase space for a candidate statement in a county voter
information guide.
Candidates
for the United States House of Representatives, California State
Senate, and California State Assembly have until August 7 to submit
candidate statements to their county elections official for the local
voter information guide in the county or counties in which the district
lies.
For more information on ballot measures, candidate statement filing requirements, and election deadlines, please visit: https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/statewide-elections/2026-primary/election-guide/section-07-general-election-calendar.pdf
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