California 2026 ballot propositions
As of March 8, 2026, three statewide ballot propositions have qualified for the ballot in California for elections in 2026.
On the ballot
| Type | Title | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allow Public Financing of Election Campaigns Measure | Election administration; Campaign finance | Allow the state and local governments to create programs that provide candidates with public funds under spending limits and eligibility rules | |
| Eliminate Successor Election at a State Officer Recall Election Amendment | State executive structure; Recall | Eliminate the successor election when a state officer is recalled, thereby leaving the office vacant until it is filled according to state law | |
| Vote Requirements for Initiatives Requiring Supermajority Votes Amendment | Supermajority; Initiative process | Require initiatives that change vote thresholds to supermajority votes to pass by the same vote requirement as is being proposed |
Potential citizen-initiated measures
In California, citizens have the right to initiate legislation through the ballot initiative or repeal legislation through the veto referendum. Getting an initiative or referendum placed on the ballot requires a measure's proponents to complete four steps:
- Step 1—Proposal filed for ballot title: Proponents file their proposed ballot initiative with the attorney general to receive circulating language.
- Step 2—Cleared for signature gathering: Proponents receive the circulating language for their ballot initiative, which allows them to begin collecting signatures.
- Step 3—25-percent threshold for signatures: Campaign reports that 25 percent of the required signatures for the ballot initiative have been collected, which requires legislative hearings on the proposal.
- Step 4—Submission of signatures: Proponents of an initiative file signatures with local election officials.
Signatures submitted for verification
Proponents of a ballot initiative file signatures with local elections officials, who then have eight days to determine a raw count of unverified signatures and communicate the count to the secretary of state. If the raw count is more than the required number of signatures, the secretary of state instructs local officials to conduct a random sampling of the submitted signatures. If the random sample indicates more than 110 percent of the required number of signatures, the initiative qualifies for the ballot. If the sample indicates fewer than 95 percent of the required number of signatures, the initiative fails to make the ballot. If the random sample indicates more than 95 percent but fewer than 110 percent, a full check of each signature must be conducted.
| Name | Type | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Homeownership Loan Program and Single-Family Home Construction Initiative (2026) | Housing | Establish a homeownership loan program for households with incomes that do not exceed 200% of the area median income for a family of the same size in the county that requires at least a 3% of the purchase price of the qualified home for the downpayment | |
| California Two-Thirds Vote Requirement for Special Taxes and Charter City Real Estate Transfer Tax Prohibition Initiative (2026) | Supermajority | Require a two-thirds vote by the electorate to enact special local taxes enacted by local governments and successful citizen initiative campaigns | |
| California Voter Identification and Voter List Maintenance Requirements Initiative (2026) | Election administration; Voter ID | Require voters to present government-issued identification when casting ballots and require election officials to use government data to confirm voter citizenship and report verification rates |
Cleared for signature gathering
Once the attorney general's office assigns a ballot title and a summary to an initiative, proponents are allowed to begin collecting signatures. Proponents of an initiative are given 180 days from the date the title and summary were assigned to collect the required signatures. Proponents of a veto referendum are given 90 days from the date the governor signed the targeted legislation.
| Name | Type | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| California AI Companion Chatbot Regulations Initiative (2026) | Business | Adopt AI chatbot regulations | |
| California Allow Voting on Citizen Initiatives at Primary Elections Measure (2026) | Initiative process; Election administration | Allow citizen initiatives to appear on primary ballots if they qualify at least 131 days before the election | |
| California Ban State Legislators Who Approve Redistricting Changes from Seeking Public Office for 10 Years Initiative (2026) | Election administration; Redistricting | Prohibit state legislators who approve or modify the redistricting process that was in effect as of January 1, 2025, from seeking public office for 10 years following the vote | |
| California Change Environmental Review Process for Essential Projects Initiative (2026) | Land use | Establish timelines for local and state agencies to review plans and solicit public comment for essential projects, such as housing, improvements to water supply, transportation, energy, and facilities for health and public safety | |
| California Changes to Tax Assessment on Inherited Homes Initiative (2026) | Public education funding | Reinstate the constitutional right to transfer a home and limited amount of other property to children or grandchildren without requiring a tax reassessment on the property. | |
| California Citizens Redistricting Commission Map Initiative (2026) | Redistricting | Require the use of the congressional maps adopted by the citizen redistricting commission in 2021 for the 2028 and 2030 congressional elections | |
| California Classify Rideshare Companies as Common Carriers Initiative (2026) | Business | Require rideshare companies to be classified as common carriers, like buses, trains, and taxis, and make them legally responsible to their riders and the public for any damages | |
| California Establish Education Savings Account and Repeal Blaine Amendment Initiative (2026) | School choice | Establish education savings accounts funded with $17,000 for each student in the first year and adjusted annually thereafter that could be used to attend private religious or nonreligious schools or homeschool | |
| California Establish Immunology and Immunotherapy Research Institute Initiative (2026) | Healthcare facility; Bonds; Vaccinations and disease | Establish an Immunology and Immunotherapy Research Institute affiliated with the University of California | |
| California Establish Personal Injury Lawyer Regulations Initiative (2026) | Business; Tort law | Require car accident victims to receive at least 75% of the total amount of damages recovered and prohibit referral agreements between personal injury law firms and medical care providers | |
| California Independence Plebiscite Initiative (2026) | Federal issues | Require an independence plebiscite on November 3, 2026, which would ask voters, "Should California leave the United States and become a free and independent country?" | |
| California Limit Compensation of Healthcare Executives Initiative (2026) | Business; Healthcare governance | Create a fair compensation limit for CEOs, executives, administrators, and managers of healthcare corporations | |
| California One-Time Wealth Tax for State-Funded Healthcare, Education, and Food Assistance Programs Initiative (2026) | Income taxes; Public health insurance | Levy a one-time 5% tax on the accumulated wealth, including shares of capital stock, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness, and any legal or equitable interest, of billionaires in the state to fund state-funded health care programs, such as Medi-Cal | |
| California Oversight of Nonprofit Scientific and Technological Research Organizations Initiative (2026) | Business | Create the Charitable Research Oversight Board to oversee artificial intelligence developers | |
| California Prohibit Certain Uses of Artificial Intelligence by Minors and Smartphone Use During the School Day Initiative (2026) | Business; Public education governance | Prohibit the use fo certain artificial intelligence powered chatbots by minors, prohibit the use of smartphones during the school day, establish statutory damages for actual harm caused by the use of AI chatbots or social media, and prohibit the selling or sharing of data from minors without consent | |
| California Prohibit Exceptions to State Minimum Guarantee for Education Funding Amendment (2026) | Revenue and spending limits | Prohibit taxes enacted after January 1, 2026, can be exempted from the state minimum guarantee for education funding established by Proposition 98 passed in 1988 | |
| California Prohibit Taxes on Retirement Holdings and Personal Savings Amendment (2026) | Income taxes | Prohibit the enactment of new taxes after January 1, 2026 on ownership or accumulation of retirement holdings, individually-owned assets, and other forms of personal savings | |
| California Property Tax Exemption for Elderly Residents Initiative (2026) | Property taxes | Establish a property tax exemption on the homesteads of elderly residents 60 years of age or older for certain ad valorem taxes | |
| California Regulate Use of Artificial Intelligence Chatbots by Minors Initiative (2026) | Business | Require AI chatbot developers to restrict content when used by minors, prohibit the sale of a minor's data without parental consent, require independent audits of chatbot technology for minor safety risks reported to the state attorney general, and prohibit the promotion of isolation or romantic relationships with AI chatbots | |
| California Renew State Income Tax Increase for Education Funding Initiative (2026) | Public education funding; Income taxes | Renew the additional income taxes enacted with the approval of Proposition 38 in 2012 that fund education and early childhood programs. | |
| California Require Background Checks and Sexual Assault Reporting by Rideshare Companies Initiative (2026) | Business | Require rideshare companies to conduct background checks and investigations when the company receives sexaul assault or misconduct allegations against a driver. | |
| California Require Health Care Union Member Approval for Ballot Measure Campaign Spending Initiative (2026) | Union deductions | Require health care labor unions to inform members annually how member dues are being spent on political activities, specifically spending on state and local ballot measures, and require a majority of members to approve such expenditures | |
| California Require Transparency in Health Clinic Funding and Regulate Use of Profits Initiative (2026) | Healthcare facility; Healthcare governance | Prohibit healthcare clinics, specifically federally-qualified health centers and related organizations, from spending less than 90% of their annual revenue on mission-related purposes | |
| California Residency Criteria for State Taxes and Benefits Amendment (2026) | Public health insurance | Establish that an individual who spends at least 183 days in a calendar year in the state, possesses a valid California driver's license or identification card, and has a valid California voter registration is considered a resident for the sake of income and asset taxation, unemployment insurance benefits eligibility, and Medi-Cal benefits eligibility | |
| California Revenue Use Requirements for New Special Taxes Amendment (2026) | Tax administration | Require state laws or ballot initiatives levying a new special tax enacted after January 1, 2026 to require the government entities or departments receiving revenue from the new tax to eliminate their lowest-performing programs and reinvest those savings in higher-performing programs | |
| California Rights to Preservation of Constitutional Government, Rule of Law, and Peaceful Transfer of Power Initiative (2026) | Constitutional rights | Establish the preservation of constitutional government, the rule of law, and the peaceful transfer of power as fundamental public rights in the state constitution | |
| California Right to Counsel of Choice Initiative (2026) | Constitutional rights; Tort law | Establish a right to counsel of choice | |
| California State University Staff First-Time Homebuyer Down Payment Loan Program Initiative (2026) | Higher education governance; Housing | Create a first time homebuyer downpayment loan program for qualifying staff of state universities | |
| California Supermajority Requirement for Initiatives Establishing One-Time Revenue Sources Amendment (2026) | Supermajority | Require initiatives proposing a one-time revenue source to be approved by a two-thirds vote |
Filed with attorney general
The first step to getting an initiative prepared for signature gathering is submitting the proposal to the attorney general's office, which prepares a ballot title and summary of the proposal. When a proposal arrives at the office, the measure receives an expected date for when the attorney general will issue a ballot title and summary.
As of March 8, 2026, there were three outstanding initiatives filed with the attorney general.
| Name | Type | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Authorize Citizen-Initiated Constitutional Revisions Amendment (2026) | Initiative process | Authorize citizen-initiated constitutional revisions | |
| California Changes to Initiative Process and Requirements Initiative (2026) | Initiative process | Allow for state and local ballot initiatives to appear on odd-year and primary ballots; decrease the number of required signatures; and levy a 5% tax on income above $10 million to fund the state cost of ballot initiative elections | |
| California Constitutional Revision Initiative (2026) | Constitution | Revise the state constitution |
Potential legislative referrals
The California State Legislature can refer statewide measures to the ballot. There are several forms of legislative referrals in California, including constitutional amendments, state statutes, and bond issues. Referrals can appear on statewide election ballots, including primary elections and general elections.
California is one of 16 states that requires a two-thirds vote in each legislative chamber during one legislative session to refer a constitutional amendment to the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 54 (of 80) votes in the California State Assembly and 27 (of 40) votes in the California State Senate, assuming no vacancies. The governor's signature is not required to refer a constitutional amendment.
The legislature can refer statutes with a simple majority vote and bond issues with a two-thirds vote, and the governor's signature is also required. In California, changes to voter-approved ballot initiatives need to be referred to voters for approval or rejection unless the changes further the initiative's purpose.
There are two outstanding legislative referrals for the 2026 ballot.
| Name | Type | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Affordable Housing Bond Measure (2026) | Bonds | Establish the Affordable Housing Bond Act Trust Fund | |
| California Public College Bond Measure (2026) | Local government; Bonds | Authorize bond sales to fund safety measures, housing, and facilities upgrades at public colleges | |
| California Remove Public Education from Affirmative Action Ban Amendment (2026) | Affirmative action | Remove public education admissions from the list of state operations that are expressly prohibited from engaging in racial discrimination or granting race-based preferential treatment |
Historical facts
- See also: List of California ballot measures
California statewide ballot measures
In California, a total of 1,306 ballot measures appeared on statewide ballots between 1910 and 2024. Seven hundred fifty-two (752) ballot measures were approved, and five hundred fifty-four (554) ballot measures were defeated.
| California statewide ballot measures, 1910-1924 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number | Annual average | Annual minimum | Annual maximum | Approved | Defeated | ||
| # | % | # | % | ||||
Ballot initiative certification rates
The following table shows the rate of certification for ballot initiatives in California between 2010 and 2024:
California Historical Ballot Measures Factbook
Ballotpedia completed an inventory of California ballot measures as part of Ballotpedia's Historical Ballot Measure Factbook, which will document nearly 200 years of direct democracy in the United States. To view a searchable database and analysis of California ballot measures, click here.
By the decade
The average number of measures per decade was almost 109, and the average number of measures approved per decade was 57.1%. The decade with the most ballot measures was the 1970s, which featured 142 ballot measures. Ninety-five measures (66.9%) were approved, and 47 (33.1%) were defeated. The decade that had the highest approval rate was the 1980s, which featured 139 measures—98 (70.5%) were approved, and 41 (29.5%) were defeated. The decade with the lowest approval rating was the 1930s. The decade featured 138 ballot measures—58 (42.0%) were approved and 80 (58.0%) were defeated.
Not on the ballot
| Name | Type | Subject | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Environmental Education in Public Schools Initiative (2026) | Energy conservation; Public education governance | Require certain environmental education requirements to be added to public schools | |
| California Establish AI Safety Commission Initiative (2026) | Business | Create the California AI Safety Commission as an independent body with the power to register AI companies, issue capability licenses, evaluate protection plans, process or deny capability expansion, impose civil penalties, conduct audits, and adopt implementing regulations | |
| California Establish Public Benefit AI Accountability Commission Initiative (2026) | Business | Require AI companies to file public benefit plans to be approved by California Public Benefit AI Accountability Commission that describes how an AI company will fulfill its committment to serve humanity or the public interest | |
| California Insurance Regulation Initiative (2026) | Business; Insurance | Prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage on residential properties that meet minimum wildfire prevention standards | |
| California New Insurance Market Regulations Initiative (2026) | Business; Insurance | Repeal Proposition 103 approved in 1988 and replace it with new insurance market regulations | |
| California Regulate Insurer's Delay or Denial of Care Initiative (2026) | Private health insurance | Prohibit health insurers from delaying, denying, or modifying medical procedures or medications recommended by a treating or attending physician | |
| California Require Ethnic Studies Class to Graduate from Public State Universities Initiative (2026) | Higher education governance | Require students to complete a course in ethnic studies in order to graduate from California State University | |
| California Right to Boycott, Divest, and Sanction Israel Initiative (2026) | Higher education governance; Business | Establish the right of individuals, organizations, universities, and public entities to boycott, divest, and sanction Israel as a form of political expression | |
| California Social Media Company Penalties for Child Harm Initiative (2026) | Business | Penalize social media companies that "knowingly violates its responsibility of ordinary care and skill to a child" |
See also
- 2026 ballot measures
- List of California ballot propositions
- Laws governing ballot measures in California
- Campaign finance requirements for California ballot measures
