According to the “Reform California” news on the 26th, the “Save Prop 13” initiative has collected 1.35 million signatures, far exceeding the required number of signatures needed to enter the November ballot. This is another grassroots initiative that has entered the November election after the California voter identification initiative.
Political figures originally believed that California taxpayers could not achieve this goal, but with the push from volunteers, supporters submitted signatures well above the required 874,641 valid signatures in this large-scale statewide campaign. The leaders of the initiative movement stated that the additional signatures provide a strong guarantee for the proposal to smoothly enter the November elections after completion of the verification process in each county.
Carl DeMaio, chairman of the grassroots political organization “Reform California” and California Assemblyman for the 75th District, said: “Sacramento politicians have been conspiring for years to weaken Prop 13 to increase property taxes for homeowners.” Now, “taxpayers have submitted 1.35 million signatures, sending a loud and clear message: don’t touch our homes!”
Similar proposal initiatives collected one million signatures before the 2024 election, but the governor and state legislature filed lawsuits to remove it from the ballot. Ultimately, the California Supreme Court ruled in favor of the state government before the vote.
In 1978, Prop 13 received overwhelming support from voters, setting limits on property tax rates and restricting the annual growth rate of property assessment values. Supporters argue that as housing prices soar, the proposal protects seniors, middle-class families, and small businesses from high tax burdens.
Prop 13, officially known as the “People’s Initiative to Limit Property Taxation,” sets a cap of 1% on property taxes (residential and commercial properties) based on the 1976 property value, when ownership changes, or the value of new construction, with an annual growth rate not exceeding 2%, regardless of market value fluctuations.
The proposal also stipulates that any future increase in state tax rates or tax revenues (including income tax rates) must be approved by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses of the state legislature. (In both the California Senate and Assembly, the number of Democratic lawmakers currently exceeds two-thirds.)
Additionally, if local governments want to increase any “special taxes,” they must also obtain a two-thirds majority vote from local voters in elections. “Special taxes” refer to taxes specifically used for particular purposes such as education, safety, addressing homelessness, or road maintenance.
Although Prop 13 passed with a 62.6% approval rate at the time, in recent years, politicians and special interest groups have been pushing for measures like the “split roll tax” proposal and other reforms to increase state and local government revenues. Advocates for taxpayer rights warn that these measures will weaken the protective effect of Prop 13 and ultimately raise housing costs for all Californians.
The ongoing “Save Prop 13” initiative aims to: 1) strengthen constitutional protections for homeowners; 2) prevent behind-the-scenes maneuvers to reassess properties at higher market prices; 3) require voter approval for any measures that seek to weaken Prop 13 in the future; and 4) protect seniors and fixed-income homeowners from the impact of tax hikes.
Prop 13 explicitly prohibits the collection of transfer taxes exceeding the limit, with rates of $1.10 or lower per $1,000. However, a loophole was created by the California courts allowing local governments to impose significantly higher general transfer taxes, such as in Los Angeles where high-value properties face very high transfer taxes.
“Reform California” and its alliance partners stated that tens of thousands of volunteers participated in signature collection activities, gathering petition signatures in communities, events, and various locations throughout California. While collecting 1.35 million signatures is a grassroots movement victory, the battle is not yet over, as the focus now shifts from securing qualification for the ballot to campaigning for the passage of the referendum.
“This is taxpayers’ resistance to the skyrocketing cost of living in California,” DeMaio said. “Politicians see your homes as a source of government revenue, while we see them as your sanctuary – we believe voters can decide its future.”
In anticipation of opposition from insiders at the state capitol, initiative leaders are preparing for possible “political tricks” during the qualification review process, just as similar proposals were thwarted in the past.
If county election officials confirm that enough valid signatures have been collected, the “Save Prop 13” constitutional amendment will appear on the statewide ballot in November, where voters will have the final say in protecting California’s landmark property tax limits.
Supporters of the “Save Prop 13” initiative urge all Californians to actively participate in volunteer services, donate, and spread the word to ensure that Prop 13 can benefit future generations. ◇