California Proposition 126, Alcohol Tax Increase Amendment (1990)

California Proposition 126
Election date November 6, 2020
Topic Taxes
Status d Defeated
Type Constitutional amendment	Origin State legislature

California Proposition 126 was on the ballot as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment in California on November 6, 1990. It was defeated.

A "yes" vote supported amending the state constitution to increase the taxes on alcohol by the following amounts: from $0.04 to $0.20 per gallon of beer; from $0.01 to $0.20 per gallon of wine; and from $2.00 to $3.30 per gallon of distilled spirits.

A "no" vote opposed amending the state constitution to increase the taxes on alcoholic beverages.

Proposition 126 conflicted with California Proposition 134 (1990) and California Proposition 136 (1990). Proposition 126 was written so that its provisions would take precedent over the other two if all of them were approved. All three were defeated.

Election results

California Proposition 126
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		3,001,351	40.92%
No		4,332,827	59.08%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Proposition 126 was as follows:

“

Alcoholic Beverages. Taxes. Legislative Constitutional Amendment

”

Ballot summary

The ballot summary for this measure was:

“

Adds to Constitution, alcohol beverage excise tax rates, proceeds payable to General Fund. Increases taxes payable to State General Fund on alcoholic beverages, as of March 1, 1991 -- beer, from 4 to 20 cents per gallon; specified wines from 1 to 20 cents per gallon; fortified wines from 2 to 20 cents per gallon; distilled spirits from $2.00 to $3.30 per gallon. Amends Constitution to exclude excise surtaxes imposed by this measure from appropriations limit, as specified. Provides that tax rate modifications of this measure control over conflicting provisions of Propositions 134 and 136.

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Fiscal impact

The fiscal estimate provided by the California Legislative Analyst's Office said:

“

This measure would result in additional General Fund revenues of approximately $70 million for a portion of 1990-91 and approximately $195 million in fiscal year 1991-92, the first full year it is in effect. Similarly, local sales tax revenues would increase statewide by approximately $1.6 million annually. Revenues generated after fiscal year 1991-92 will depend upon the trends in alcohol sales. Adjustments are also made to the state's constitutional spending limit to include the additional tax revenue.

”

Path to the ballot

See also: Signature requirements for ballot measures in California

A two-thirds vote was needed in each chamber of the California State Legislature to refer the constitutional amendment to the ballot for voter consideration.The California State Legislature voted to put Proposition 126 on the ballot via Assembly Constitutional Amendment 38 (Statutes of 1990, Resolution Chapter 56).

See also

1990 Measures

• 1990 Measures
• Alcohol laws on the ballot
• Taxes on the ballot
• 1990 legislative sessions

California

• California ballot measures
• California ballot measure laws

News and analysis

• Ballot measure lawsuits
• Ballot measure readability
• Ballot measure polls

External links

• California Voter Guide (November 1990)
• Full text of Proposition 126