Bo Tefu | California Black Media
California Initiative Would Exempt Some Homeowners 60 and Older From Property Taxes
California voters could decide whether to exempt certain homeowners age 60 and older from paying property taxes under a new constitutional amendment now cleared to gather signatures.
Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D., announced that the proposal officially entered circulation on Feb. 5, 2026, a requirement for it to be placed on the statewide ballot for the November general election. Supporters must collect 874,641 valid signatures by Aug. 4, 2026, for the measure to qualify.
The proposed amendment would exempt a principal residence from property taxes if the homeowner or their spouse is at least 60 years old and has either lived in the home for five consecutive years or lived in California for at least 10 years. The exemption would end if the property no longer serves as a primary residence. After five years, homeowners would need to certify that they still qualify. The measure would not apply to voter-approved special taxes, assessments or bonds.
The Attorney General issued the official title and summary, which states the proposal would reduce local property tax revenues by exempting qualifying homes from taxation.
“Many homeowners ages 60 or older would pay lower property taxes. This would reduce revenue for local governments and schools by $12 billion to $20 billion per year. These losses would grow over time,” states a fiscal estimate from the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) and the Director of Finance.
Weber said the initiative was cleared after the Attorney General completed the required legal review process and forwarded the official language of the measure to her office and the name of the proponent.
The proposal, filed as Initiative 25-0035, is sponsored by Rishi Kumar of Campbell. To qualify for the ballot, supporters must gather signatures equal to 8% of the total votes cast for governor in the November 2022 election.
If approved by voters, the measure would amend the California Constitution and could significantly reshape how property taxes fund local governments and public schools across the state.
California Punches Back With Lawsuit After Federal Gov’t Slashes $600 Million in Blue State Health Care Funding
California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a federal lawsuit Feb. 9 after the Trump administration moved to cut more than $600 million in public health funding to four Democratic-led states, including California.
The lawsuit challenges a decision by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to terminate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) grants to California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota. State officials argue the cuts are politically motivated and unlawful. California stands to lose the largest share of the funding.
According to the complaint, the grants support core public health programs, including HIV testing and treatment, disease surveillance, emergency preparedness and laboratory capacity. A major target is the Public Health Infrastructure Block Grant program, which operates in all 50 states. In California, the largest grant under that program totals $180 million, with $130 million still outstanding.
“President Trump is resorting to a familiar playbook. He is using federal funding to compel states and jurisdictions to follow his agenda. Those efforts have all previously failed, and we expect that to happen once again,” Bonta said in a statement.
Earlier this month, the Office of Management and Budget issued a directive ordering the CDC to cut funding to the four states. On Feb. 9, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) notified Congress of its intent to terminate the grants. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, alleges the administration violated the Administrative Procedure Act and exceeded its constitutional authority by imposing retroactive conditions on funding.
“My fellow attorneys general and I will not be silenced. We will continue taking him to court any time he takes unlawful actions,” Bonta said.
The states are seeking a temporary restraining order to block the cuts from taking effect. If the funding is halted, California health officials warn it could disrupt disease prevention, emergency response and local public health services across the state.
