California Classify Rideshare Companies as Common Carriers Initiative (2026)
| California Classify Rideshare Companies as Common Carriers Initiative | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic Business regulations |
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| Status Cleared for signature gathering |
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| Type Initiated state statute |
Origin |
The California Classify Rideshare Companies as Common Carriers Initiative (#25-0028) may appear on the ballot in California as an initiated state statute on November 3, 2026.
The initiative would 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.[1]
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title is as follows:
| “ | Expands rideshare companies' liability for passenger injuries. Initiative statute.[2] | ” |
Petition summary
The summary provided for inclusion on signature petition sheets is as follows:
| “ | Classifies rideshare companies as “common carriers” under California law (like taxis, buses, and trains), requiring those companies to exercise a heightened standard of care to avoid harm to passengers. Makes rideshare companies legally responsible for injuries to passengers or the public caused by a rideshare driver’s negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct, regardless of whether the driver is an independent contractor. Voids any contract between a rideshare company and a passenger or independent contractor that purports to waive any of these rights or obligations. [2] | ” |
Full text
The full text of the initiative can be read here.
Path to the ballot
An initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. There are 21 states that allow citizens to initiate state statutes, including 14 that provide for direct initiatives and nine (9) that provide for indirect initiatives (two provide for both). An indirect initiated state statute goes to the legislature after a successful signature drive. The legislatures in these states have the option of approving the initiative itself, rather than the initiative appearing on the ballot.
In California, the number of signatures required for an initiated state statute is equal to 5% of the votes cast in the last gubernatorial election. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval. The requirements to get initiated state statutes certified for the 2026 ballot:
- Signatures: 546,651 valid signatures are required.
- Deadline: The deadline for signature verification is June 25, 2026. However, the secretary of state suggested deadlines for turning in signatures of January 12, 2026, for initiatives needing a full check of signatures and April 17, 2026, for initiatives needing a random sample of signatures verified.
Initiative #25-0028
- October 28, 2025: James C. Harrison filed the initiative with the California Attorney General's Office.[1]
- January 2, 2026: The initiative was cleared for signature gathering.
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Attorney General Information: Initiative and Referendum Proposals Pending Review By Attorney General, "25-0028 text," accessed October 29, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
