Home/Ballot measures/Proposition 42
PROP42
California · November 3, 2026 · upcoming

PROHIBITS NEW STATE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES AND CERTAIN RETROACTIVE STATE TAXES.

Prohibits any new state tax (1) imposed on the ownership of personal property (all things people own other than real estate), or (2) that applies retroactively based on taxpayer’s past activities. Nullifies taxes enacted after January 1, 2026 that conflict with this measure.

What your vote means

Yes or No, in the state's words

YES

The state could not establish new taxes on the ownership of financial assets or other personal property.

NO

The state would continue to have the option to establish new taxes on the ownership of financial assets or other personal property.

OFFICIAL FISCAL EFFECT

What the state says it may cost or change

Possibility that tax revenues will not go up as much in the future.

CURRENT LAW

Read the full analysis

The Quick Reference Guide does not publish a separate current-law sentence for this proposition. Election.org does not infer one. The Legislative Analyst's analysis in the official proposition PDF explains the baseline law.

Open official analysis ↗
WHY IT IS ON THE BALLOT

Qualified through petition signatures

The official guide labels this measure as put on the ballot by Petition Signatures. This is a source classification, not an Election.org judgment.

RESULT

Not available before Election Day

This election is upcoming. Election.org will not show a blank or zero as a result.

Attributed positions

Who the official quick guide lists

SUPPORTERS

CA Professional Firefighters; State Building & Construction Trades Council of CA; AMVETS Department of CA

OPPONENTS

US Senator Bernie Sanders; SEIU United Healthcare Workers West

Arguments are the opinions of their authors and have not been checked for accuracy by an official agency.