HJTA collects over half a million signatures for Repeal the Death Tax initiative, misses November ballot
The results of the all-volunteer, grassroots campaign exceeded HJTA’s previous effort to restore the constitutional right for parents to transfer their home and limited other property to their children without any change to the property tax bill. The taxpayer organization’s 2022 initiative campaign collected more than 402,000 signatures, also in an all-volunteer effort without paid signature gatherers.
HJTA’s proposed initiative aimed to restore the parent-child transfer exclusion from reassessment for a home and limited other property, a right that was removed from the constitution by the fine print of Proposition 19 in 2020.
“Most voters were not aware that Proposition 19 contained a provision that would imperil their own family’s ability to transfer property between the generations without a tax increase,” said HJTA President Jon Coupal. “A $50 million advertising campaign for Prop. 19 emphasized only its benefits for wildfire victims and for seniors moving to a new home.”
The parent-child transfer exclusion from reassessment originally was added to the state constitution in 1986. By that time, eight years had passed since the enactment of Proposition 13, and families inheriting their parents’ property were shocked at the increase in the tax bill when the property was reassessed to market value at the time of inheritance.
In response to political pressure, the Legislature created the parent-child transfer exclusion, passed it unanimously, and put it on the ballot as Proposition 58. Voters passed it with over 75% approval.
“Our polling shows that the parent-child transfer exclusion would pass by the same margin today,” Coupal said. “As more Californians learn about what has occurred, and how this “death tax” provision of Proposition 19 will affect their own families, we believe the political pressure on the Legislature will intensify.”
Sen. Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta) previously introduced Senate Constitutional Amendment (SCA) 4, which would restore the parent-child transfer protection to the constitution. SCA 4 was voted down in its first committee hearing despite compelling testimony from witnesses including Los Angeles County Assessor Jeffrey Prang.
SCA 4 was granted reconsideration and could be heard again.
HJTA is currently reviewing all the available data from the initiative effort and considering next steps.
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Community leaders and citizen taxpayers urge Senate Finance Committee to take action to repeal the death tax.
"It’s hard to imagine anything more callous than the government sending a giant tax bill to a bereaved family, but thanks to Proposition 19, many California families will have that unfortunate experience.”
questions on proposition 19?
Do you have questions on Proposition 19 or the new rules for property tax increases on inherited homes and other real estate? We’re collecting signatures for an initiative that will restore the constitutional rights that were lost when Proposition 19 passed — the right of parents and children to transfer property to each other while keeping the property tax bill the same, instead of triggering reassessment to market value and a huge tax increase as Prop. 19 requires. The Repeal the Death Tax Act does not change the other parts of Proposition 19. If you have questions about a specific individual situation, one good source for detailed information about Proposition 19 is the Board of Equalization, the state agency that oversees property tax administration.
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Contact Us
Email us at info@hjta.org for general questions.
Representatives of the media
Please call Susan Shelley, Vice President, Communications, at 213-384-9656.
Northern California Office
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
1201 K Street, Suite 1030
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-444-9950
Southern California Office
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association
621 South Westmoreland Avenue, Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90005
Phone: 213-384-9656