California lawmakers have advanced a ballot measure for the November election that would increase the voter threshold required to pass certain local special taxes. The measure mandates a two-thirds majority for citizen-led tax initiatives, closing a loophole that previously allowed them to pass with a simple majority.

The new proposal is a compromise reached between Democratic lawmakers and anti-tax groups like the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. Crucially, it will not repeal existing taxes that were passed with a simple majority, including Los Angeles’s controversial Measure ULA transfer tax on high-value property sales.

While Measure ULA has raised funds for affordable housing, it has also been blamed for a significant reduction in large multifamily development and high-value property transactions in Los Angeles. Cities and local governments oppose the new measure, arguing that the higher voter threshold will make it more challenging to fund essential services like housing, transportation, and infrastructure.