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Proposition 41 · California · Nov 3, 2026

Special-tax audits and spending limits

Official title: Prohibits New State Taxes That Exclude Revenues from State Spending Limit. Requires Audits for New State Special Taxes. Initiative Constitutional Amendment.

Adds audits of programs funded by new special taxes and restricts new taxes exempt from the state spending limit.

At a glance

Tax rule change
Does it raise taxes?
No new tax. Adds audits and spending-limit rules for new special taxes.
Estimated cost or revenue
A few million dollars a year in audits at first, more later. Overall effect unclear.
Who pays
Mostly new tax revenue; otherwise the General Fund.
Where the money goes
Not yet verified
How long
Not yet verified

Worth knowing: If Prop 41 gets more yes votes than Prop 40, a court could block Prop 40.

From the official voter guide and the state’s fiscal analysis. Estimates are the state’s, not ours.

Your choice

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What your vote does

✓ A Yes vote means

Before a citizen-proposed special tax goes on the ballot, the State Auditor reviews the programs it would fund and identifies 10% in possible cuts, summarized in the voter guide. Programs funded by new special taxes are audited every four years. New taxes from Jan 1, 2026 must count toward the state spending limit.

× A No vote means

Special taxes keep going to voters without a required audit, and current spending-limit rules stay.

How the money works

TypeTax rule change

Cost, who pays and where the money goes are in “At a glance” above.

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Why they disagree

Who’s funding it

We haven’t loaded campaign-finance filings for Proposition 41 yet. You can look them up directly:

Sources

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