What is Prop. 43?

Prop 43 would make it harder to raise revenue in California by raising the threshold to a two-thirds vote requirement for local special revenue measures.

What would Prop. 43 do specifically?

• Prohibits local government from imposing, extending, or increasing any special tax unless and until that tax is submitted to the electorate and approved by a 2/3 vote. 
• Prohibits local government from imposing certain taxes on real estate property, except as provided pursuant to specified constitutional provisions.

What’s at risk if Prop 43 and the ⅔ threshold passes?

Requiring a ⅔ supermajority gives a relatively small minority of voters the ability to block funding for local infrastructure, such as public transit, road repairs, affordable housing, parks, libraries, wildfire prevention, flood control, and schools. All that loss in funding translates to layoffs for our members and worse or eliminated public services for our communities.

I’m confused; I thought we already beat this thing? 

In 2024, SEIU California and its allies were able to get the Taxpayer Deception Act off the 2024 November thrown out by the California Supreme Court; however, the far right Howard Jarvis Taxpayer association put forward a new measure for the 2026 ballot that passed legal muster – instituting the ⅔ rule.

How is this a threat to voters’ rights??

California communities have long had the right to make their own decisions about local priorities at the ballot box. The Local Taxpayer Deception Act takes that right away, giving a minority of voters the power to veto the will of the majority. It is an assault on local democracy.

How Does Prop 43 Affect Housing?

Prop 43 will make California’s housing crisis worse – Cities often rely on locally approved revenue measures to build and preserve existing affordable housing and finance homelessness programs. Raising the approval threshold will make these projects significantly harder to fund. 

Who supports Prop. 43? 

Reform California, a group led by MAGA politician Carl DeMaio and funded by anti-union, pro-Trump wealthy donors, and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, which partners closely with private equity and corporate real estate companies.

Who opposes Prop. 43?

California Federation of Labor Unions, California Nurses Association, California Teachers Association, CADem, and SEIU CA.