About California Proposition 13

Prop 13, officially titled the "People's Initiative to Limit Property Taxation," was a ballot initiative to amend the constitution of the state of California. The initiative was enacted by the voters of California on June 6, 1978. It would eventually be upheld as constitutional by the United States Supreme Court in the case of Nordlinger v. Hahn, 505 U.S. 1 (1992). Proposition 13 is embodied in Article 13A of the California Constitution.

Its passage resulted in a cap on property tax rates in the state, reducing them by an average of 57%. In addition to lowering property taxes, the initiative also contained language requiring a two-thirds majority in both legislative houses for future increases in all state tax rates or amounts of revenue collected, including income tax rates. Proposition 13 received an enormous amount of publicity, not only in California, but throughout the United States. Passage of the initiative presaged a "taxpayer revolt" throughout the country that is thought to have contributed to the election of Ronald Reagan to the presidency in 1980.

Since Prop 13 California legislators have enacted new propositions (Prop 60, 90, & 110) which complement and extend the benefits of Prop 13 to California property owners of age 55 or older wishing to ‘downsize’ to properties located within California or persons of any age in California who are severely and permanently disabled. More information on Prop 60, 90, & 110 is located under the button "Information for Sellers" on this web site.