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Prop 41: State spending limit

Prohibits New State Taxes That Exclude Revenues From State Spending Limit. Requires Audits for New State Special Taxes

Initiative Constitutional Amendment. A change to the California Constitution that voters put on the ballot by signing petitions.

In plain English

Once backers of a special tax initiative collect 25 percent of needed signatures, the State Auditor would review the programs it would fund. Programs funded by new or increased special taxes would be audited every four years. New special tax spending might have to count toward the state spending limit. Audits would likely cost low millions of dollars a year, growing over time, mostly paid by new taxes. Printing audit summaries in the voter guide would add a few hundred thousand dollars in state printing and mailing costs per qualified initiative. Savings are possible if audit advice is used and works; the net effect is unknown. If Proposition 41 gets more yes votes than Proposition 40, courts could find a conflict and block Proposition 40.

A YES VOTE MEANS

When special taxes are proposed by voter initiatives, the California State Auditor would review programs funded by the tax before the initiative appears on the ballot. The California State Auditor also would regularly review programs funded by special taxes approved by voters or the Legislature. In addition, the state might not be able to exclude any new special tax spending from its spending limit.

A NO VOTE MEANS

The California State Auditor's responsibility to review government programs would not change. The state spending limit requirements would not change.

Official Spanish text from the California Official Voter Information Guide.

Source: official voter guide

Official ballot label

The exact words on your ballot. Tap to read.
PROHIBITS NEW STATE TAXES THAT EXCLUDE REVENUES FROM STATE SPENDING LIMIT. REQUIRES AUDITS FOR NEW STATE SPECIAL TAXES. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT. Nullifies state taxes enacted after January 1, 2026 that exempt their revenues from voter-approved state spending limit. Requires pre-election and recurring audits of programs funded by new special taxes. Fiscal Impact: The net fiscal effect is unknown as it depends on future decisions by voters, the Legislature, and other policymakers.
Source: LA County Registrar, measures on the ballot

Official text in English. Read the official Spanish voter guide.

Official arguments

Written by supporters and opponents and printed in the official state voter guide, word for word. Arguments printed on this page are the opinions of the authors and have not been checked for accuracy by any official agency.

Official text in English. Read the official Spanish voter guide (PDF).

Argument for

By supportersSigned by Denise LeDuc Froemming, Tom Hayes, and Robert Gutierrez. Tap to read.

CALIFORNIANS DESERVE BETTER RESULTS FOR OUR TAX DOLLARS

Prop. 41 requires the State Auditor to conduct independent public audits of programs funded by proposed new taxes in order to increase transparency and accountability and drive better outcomes.

Californians pay some of the highest taxes in the country - on top of our high cost of living. This year alone, California's state government will spend more than $350 billion - a 79% increase in spending since 2019. Billions of our tax dollars have flowed into state programs like homelessness efforts, with too little to show for it.

We deserve better education, health care, infrastructure and other services in return for the hard-earned money we pay to the state.

Prop. 41 requires more accountability, transparency and trackable progress of programs funded by our taxes, so that we stop funding failure and start funding successful outcomes.

Here's how Prop. 41 works.

PUBLIC AUDITS TO PROVIDE ACCOUNTABILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT

Prop. 41 requires the independent State Auditor to conduct performance and financial audits of the programs funded by new tax measures, with the results posted publicly. The audits must:

• Track all program spending and assess whether it's achieving its intended outcomes; • Determine whether programs have sufficient oversight and accountability; • Identify areas of waste, fraud and abuse; • Recommend how future waste and fraud can be avoided and programs made more effective.

Prop. 41 requires audits both before taxes are voted on to provide transparency to voters, and ongoing audits of programs funded by approved taxes to ensure accountability. PROP. 41: INDEPENDENT, PUBLIC INFORMATION FOR VOTERS ON PROPOSED TAXES

Before we vote on new taxes to fund programs, voters should have access to independent information about how those programs are being managed and whether they actually need more funding. Under Prop. 41, the Auditor's findings must be posted publicly and in the Voter Information Guide - so voters can make informed decisions about new taxes without having to rely on information from special interests or politicians.

"This commonsense, long overdue reform will finally instill some transparency and accountability in state spending - ensuring Californians get better government services for the taxes we pay. It provides an independent, public report card for government spending, so government programs work better for everyone." - Pat Fong Kushida, President/CEO of the CalAsian Chamber of Commerce

PROP. 41: A BETTER DEAL FOR TAXPAYERS

Prop. 41 doesn't raise taxes - it protects taxpayers' interests:

• Reduces the waste and fraud that have cost California taxpayers billions of dollars in recent years; • Requires all taxes to comply with the state's voter-approved spending limit - including its requirement that excess revenues get refunded to taxpayers.

Prop. 41 ensures taxpayers get better results - not just a bigger tax bill.

"Every tax dollar we waste is a dollar that could actually help someone. Californians already pay the highest state income and sales taxes in the country - we need better transparency and accountability to make sure our tax dollars produce results. Prop. 41 delivers." - Steve Westly, former Controller of California.

Please join good government groups, small business owners, accountants, taxpayers and public transparency advocates in voting Yes on 41.

For more information, visit: www.ResultsCA.org

Denise LeDuc Froemming, CPA, President
California Society of Certified Public Accountants (CalCPAs)
Tom Hayes, Fmr. California State Auditor
Robert Gutierrez, President
California Taxpayers Association (CalTax)

Reply to the argument for

By opponentsSigned by Suzanne Jimenez. Tap to read.

THIS IS A BILLIONAIRE-FUNDED SMOKE SCREEN

Don't be fooled - Prop. 41 is not really about audits. This is all a trick so approximately 200 billionaires can keep avoiding paying their own taxes while YOU get stuck with the bill.

PROP. 41 WOULD CANCEL OUT THE BILLIONAIRE TAX

Prop. 41 is a billionaire-funded scheme designed specifically to undo the California Billionaire Tax, Prop. 40.

Prop. 41 was put on the ballot because billionaires don't want to pay their fair share. They'd rather millions of working people lose healthcare than pay a modest, one-time tax on their extreme wealth.

To add insult to injury, Prop. 41 isn't just a scheme, it's an expensive one - it would cost the state time and money. SOME OF DONALD TRUMP'S DONORS FUNDED THIS

The billionaires behind this don't care about accountability for taxpayers. They've been getting out of paying their own taxes for years through loopholes and tax breaks.

This sham initiative was created to trick voters like you into making a billionaire tax impossible to enforce.

IF YOU CARE ABOUT FUNDING FOR HEALTHCARE, PUBLIC EDUCATION, AND FOOD ASSISTANCE, VOTE NO ON PROP. 41

Donald Trump slashed funding for our essential services so billionaires could hoard even more wealth.

Passing the California Billionaire Tax is the only way to replace the money Trump took from us, so we're not stuck with shuttered hospitals and skyrocketing healthcare costs.

To save lives and keep healthcare costs down for Californians, reject the billionaires' lies.

Vote NO on Prop. 41.

Suzanne Jimenez, Chief of Staff
SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West

Argument against

By opponentsSigned by Suzanne Jimenez. Tap to read.

VOTE NO ON PROP. 41. This is a billionaire-funded initiative designed specifically to undo the California Billionaire Tax, Prop. 40.

PROP. 41 WOULD CANCEL OUT THE BILLIONAIRE TAX

Prop. 41 was put on the ballot for one reason - because billionaires don't want to pay their fair share. This initiative was created to trick voters like you into making a billionaire tax impossible to enforce. That's why you must vote NO.

Don't fall for the billionaires' lies. Prop. 41 isn't about auditing new taxes. It's about defeating one specific tax that billionaires want to avoid, because they'd rather millions of working people lose healthcare than pay a modest, one-time tax on their extreme wealth.

PROP. 41 WAS FUNDED BY BILLIONAIRES WHO WANT YOU TO PAY MORE FOR HEALTHCARE

One of Prop. 41's main funders is Google founder and Trump donor Sergey Brin, whose wealth has DOUBLED to nearly $300 billion since Trump's election. Now he's spent over $57 million to fund sham measures like Prop. 41 that attempt to cancel out a billionaire tax. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders called this arrogant move by Brin "unacceptable."

Donald Trump took money out of working peoples' pockets and gave it to billionaires like Brin through massive tax breaks. Now, the billionaires backing Prop. 41 want YOU to pay more for your healthcare.

VOTE NO ON PROP. 41 IF YOU SUPPORT THE BILLIONAIRE TAX

We have a chance to make billionaires pay their fair share to keep hospitals open and healthcare affordable for California's working families. Vote NO on Prop. 41.

Suzanne Jimenez, Chief of Staff
SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West

Reply to the argument against

By supportersSigned by Pat Fong Kushida, Steve Westly, and Robert Gutierrez. Tap to read.

When state government programs don't deliver, it hurts the people who rely on those services and the taxpayers who fund them.

Prop. 41 requires the independent State Auditor to conduct performance and financial audits of the programs to be funded by new taxes - to help make programs more effective and efficient.

Ask yourself: why would a single, solitary Sacramento special interest oppose transparency and accountability?

YES ON 41: TAXPAYERS DESERVE BETTER RESULTS

Some facts:

• Our state budget is a record high $352 billion this year. • State spending is up 79% since 2019. • We've spent billions on programs like homelessness - with too little to show for it.

With some of the highest taxes in the nation and a rising cost of living, we can't afford to fund failure. Every dollar wasted is one that could go to help someone.

Prop. 41 requires transparency and trackable progress of programs, to help improve education, health care and other public services Californians rely on.

PROP. 41: PUBLIC AUDITS TO IMPROVE ACCOUNTABILITY

"Independent performance audits give voters objective, credible information about public resources, strengthening accountability and public trust." Denise LeDuc Froemming, President, California Society of Certified Public Accountants

Under Prop. 41, the independent State Auditor publicly reviews the programs that new taxes would fund, exposes any waste or mismanagement, and recommends program improvements. The audit findings are published in the Voter Information Guide before you vote - with ongoing audits if a tax is approved.

VOTERS DESERVE MORE TRANSPARENCY - even if special interests don't like it.

Vote Yes on Prop. 41. More transparency, more accountability, better results for our tax dollars.

Pat Fong Kushida, President
California Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce (CalAsian Chamber)
Steve Westly, Fmr. California State Controller
Robert Gutierrez, President
California Taxpayers Association (CalTax)

Source: California Secretary of State, arguments and rebuttals, as of Oct 15, 2026

Where groups stand

Every group on our list, by category. Each position links to the group's own published guide.

Label definitions Quotes are each group's own words, copied exactly.

Political parties

10 groups

State and county parties are separate groups and can take different positions.

News outlets

5 groups

These are the only news outlets we found with published endorsements for this election. Suggest another.

Labor

9 groups

Business

3 groups

Civic and good government

1 group

  • League of Women Voters of California

    No

    Their words: "Prop 41 would put revenue from new state taxes under the Gann Limit's rigid constitutional spending cap, making it harder to fund essential services and respond to changing needs."

    The League's guide shows its position as a graphic. The quote is from its written explanation.

    Source, checked Oct 15, 2026

Issue and advocacy groups

3 groups

About the summary

Summary drafted with AI from the official analysis and checked against it by automated review. Read the official analysis

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