Senior Tax Relief or Budget Buster? California’s 60+ Property Tax Exemption Act (Initiative 25-0035) Gains Steam
- Rex Ballard
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Many elderly homeowners in California are being forced to sell their homes of many years because they can no longer afford to pay rising property tax bills
A citizen-led ballot initiative that could wipe out property taxes for tens of thousands of California homeowners aged 60 and older is now circulating petitions across the state — including right here in Shasta County — with backers calling it long-overdue justice for seniors who built the Golden State.
The 60+ Property Tax Exemption Act of 2026 (Attorney General tracking number 25-0035) would amend the California Constitution to fully exempt the principal residence of qualifying seniors from standard ad valorem property taxes. To qualify, at least one homeowner or their spouse must be 60 or older, and the home must have been their primary residence for five consecutive years, or the owner must have lived in California for at least 10 years. The exemption ends if the property is no longer a primary residence, and homeowners must recertify eligibility every five years. It does not apply to voter-approved special taxes, assessments, or bonds.
If it qualifies for the November 3, 2026, ballot and passes with a simple majority, the measure would deliver dramatic relief to fixed-income retirees facing California’s sky-high home values and tax bills. Even with Proposition 13’s 2% annual cap still in place, many elderly homeowners are being forced to sell their homes.
Watch Rishi Kumar explain the initiative in this campaign video
What It Would Mean for California Seniors
Proponents say the initiative is about basic dignity and preventing seniors from being “taxed out” of the very homes they’ve paid for over decades. Many retirees live on Social Security or pensions that haven’t kept pace with property tax increases driven by soaring assessments in places like the Bay Area — and even here in Shasta County, where median home values have climbed steadily.
“Californians 60+ deserve to age with dignity in their own homes,” the campaign states. “No more choosing between food, medicine, and property taxes. No more fear of losing everything late in life.” Backers point to rising senior homelessness and argue that the exemption would save the state money in the long term by keeping people housed rather than in costly shelters or emergency services.
What would this Initiative Do if Passed?
It would eliminate the ad valorem portion of the tax bill. Ad valorem taxes are the main value-based portion of your California property tax bill. The term “ad valorem” is Latin for “according to value,” so these taxes are calculated as a percentage of your home’s assessed value (the taxable value set by your county assessor, which is generally frozen or capped under Proposition 13).
Here’s a clear, labeled example from the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) showing the standard breakdown:
Understanding California's Property Taxes
Box A (left side): Shows your property’s assessed value (land + improvements minus any exemptions like the $7,000 homeowner’s exemption).
Box B (top right – “General Tax Levy” + “Voter-Approved Debt Rates”): These are the ad valorem taxes.
The statewide 1% base levy (Prop 13’s cap) — this is the largest single line item.
Additional small percentages for voter-approved general obligation (GO) bonds (often for schools, water districts, community colleges, etc.). These are also calculated as a % of your assessed value.
Together, these usually total an effective rate of about 1.05%–1.25% of assessed value, depending on where you live.
Box C (bottom right – “Direct Levies”): These are NOT ad valorem taxes. They are fixed charges or special assessments (e.g., Mello-Roos Community Facilities District taxes, sidewalk/flood/street lighting assessments, parcel taxes). They are not based on your property’s value — they’re flat per-parcel fees or based on benefit received.
Box D: The grand total you actually pay.
In Shasta County, where many residents are retirees drawn by lower costs and a quieter lifestyle, the proposal could be especially impactful. Local seniors already benefit from California’s existing $7,000 homeowner’s exemption and property tax postponement programs, which make only a small dent in the state's high tax bills, but this would go much further — potentially freeing up thousands of dollars annually for everyday living.
The Proponent: Rishi Kumar and the Campaign
The driving force behind the measure is Rishi Kumar, a Silicon Valley tech executive, mechanical engineer, and former two-term Saratoga City Councilmember. Kumar, a Democrat, filed the initiative in December 2025 while campaigning for Santa Clara County Assessor. He launched the official campaign website, exemptpropertytax.com, and is actively recruiting signature gatherers across the state.
Kou: Rishi Kumar offers a forward-looking vision for residents - San José Spotlight
Kumar frames the initiative as a straightforward extension of Proposition 13’s spirit: protecting longtime homeowners from being priced out. He notes that 16 other states already offer some form of senior property tax relief. His pitch includes endorsements from a handful of local elected officials, including former Assemblymember Kansen Chu and several former mayors and councilmembers from the South Bay.
Kumar insists there will be “no deficit” and “no tax increases for anyone.” He argues that the state can offset the revenue loss by cutting government waste, using technology and AI to improve efficiency in assessment offices, and avoiding the far higher costs of senior homelessness. Schools, he says, would remain fully funded through Proposition 98’s state backfill guarantee.
Another must-watch video from the campaign
Opposition: “Not a Serious Proposal”
Critics are already sounding alarms about the price tag. The nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates the exemption would slash local government and school district revenues by $12 billion to $20 billion per year, with losses growing over time as more seniors qualify.
Graham Knaus, CEO of the California State Association of Counties, pulled no punches: “This ballot measure would obliterate county funding for emergency response, public safety, homelessness, and elections. It’s just not a serious proposal.”
County officials and public safety advocates worry the hit would force cuts to police, fire, roads, parks, and libraries — or shift the burden onto younger homeowners and renters. Public comments on the Attorney General’s site and social media have echoed those concerns, with some calling it unfair for wealthy seniors (including billionaires over 60) to get a blanket exemption while working families shoulder the load. Others argue that existing Prop 13 protections and income-based relief programs are already sufficient.
No major statewide opposition campaign has formally launched yet — the California State Association of Counties says it typically waits until measures qualify — but the early pushback suggests a tough fight if it reaches the ballot.
Philosophy at the Core
At its heart, the initiative reflects a simple philosophy: Californians who spent decades paying taxes, raising families, and contributing to their communities shouldn’t be forced to sell their homes in retirement because of escalating property tax bills. It’s about housing stability, rewarding long-term residency, and recognizing that seniors on fixed incomes are uniquely vulnerable in one of the nation’s most expensive states.
Supporters see it as pro-family and pro-community — keeping neighborhoods intact and seniors independent. Critics counter that broad age-based carve-outs ignore ability to pay and could undermine the very local services seniors rely on.
Current Status and How to Get Involved
As of mid-April 2026, the initiative is in the signature-gathering phase. Proponents need 874,641 valid signatures from registered voters by August 4, 2026 (with an encouraged early target of mid-June). Any California voter can sign — no age requirement.
Petitions are available for download at exemptpropertytax.com. Volunteers are fanning out across all 58 counties, including Northern California.
Whether you view this as compassionate relief or fiscal recklessness, one thing is clear: if it qualifies, California voters will have a direct say on whether seniors 60 and older get a full pass on the property taxes that fund the services we all use.
Shasta Unfiltered will continue tracking this measure and its potential local impact as the signature deadline approaches. What do you think — relief for seniors or burden on everyone else? Drop your thoughts (and any photos or stories from local seniors) in the comments.
