Two 2026 ballot measures proposed to make it harder to increase property, sales taxes

We will have the opportunity to lower taxes in California in 2026.

“Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association President Jon Coupal submitted two measures to the state on Monday, both of which are titled the Save Proposition 13 Act of 2026. 

• The first version would reverse all loopholes to Proposition 13 that courts created which weaken the protections that were put in place by the 1976 measure. 
• It would require special local taxes to be approved by two-thirds of voters and the elected officials of the local government. It would also bar local governments from increasing general property taxes in their communities. 
• The first version also would make all property taxes enacted prior to the passage of the measure that were not approved by two-thirds of voters to be void. 
• The only difference in the second version of the ballot measure is that it removes the section that would make all property taxes void that were not approved by two-thirds of voters.”

Upset with high taxes?  You will have a chance to over ride the tax loving Democrats—just as we did in 1978.

Two 2026 ballot measures proposed to make it harder to increase property, sales taxes

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association is looking to amend the California Constitution to protect Proposition 13.

by Daniel Gligich,  5/13/25   https://sjvsun.com/california/two-measures-proposed-to-make-it-harder-to-increase-property-taxes/

California voters may have an opportunity next year to protect Proposition 13, making it more difficult to raise property taxes. 

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association submitted two ballot measures to the California Attorney General’s Office, the first step to prepare a petition to circulate for signatures to place them on the ballot next year. 

The backstory: California voters approved Proposition 13 in 1976, which capped the annual property tax at 1% of assessed value and only allows the assessed value to increase by a maximum of 2% per year. 

• Proposition 13 also made it so properties are only reassessed when ownership changes. 
• Last year the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association qualified the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act for the November ballot. That measure would have required tax increases to be approved by two-thirds of the Legislature and a majority of voters statewide. It also would have required special local taxes to be approved by two-thirds of voters locally. 
• But the California Supreme Court removed it from the ballot last year after Gov. Gavin Newsom filed a lawsuit against it, ruling that it would have been a revision of the California Constitution, which voters do not have the power to do. 

The big picture: Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association President Jon Coupal submitted two measures to the state on Monday, both of which are titled the Save Proposition 13 Act of 2026. 

• The first version would reverse all loopholes to Proposition 13 that courts created which weaken the protections that were put in place by the 1976 measure. 
• It would require special local taxes to be approved by two-thirds of voters and the elected officials of the local government. It would also bar local governments from increasing general property taxes in their communities. 
• The first version also would make all property taxes enacted prior to the passage of the measure that were not approved by two-thirds of voters to be void. 
• The only difference in the second version of the ballot measure is that it removes the section that would make all property taxes void that were not approved by two-thirds of voters. 

What we’re watching: The Attorney General’s Office is accepting public comment for 30 days before creating a title and summary for the initiatives and starting the signature collecting process. 

• The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association will need to collect at least 874,641 signatures to place the measures on the ballot next year.