Sacramento, CA — Major labor groups are supporting Proposition 42, the Retirement and Personal Savings Protection Act. The State Building & Construction Trades Council of California, the Los Angeles & Orange Counties Building & Construction Trades Council, California Professional Firefighters (CPF), the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, and the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) are each a part of a growing coalition working to protect Californians’ retirement and personal savings from new state taxes this November.

Together, these organizations represent hundreds of thousands of firefighters, peace officers, construction workers, and other working Californians. Their support underscores the importance of protecting the retirement savings that working families spend decades earning.

“The State Building Trades has consistently advocated for fair wages, strong benefits, and retirement security for working families,” said Chris Hannan, President of the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California. “Our members have earned their retirement through a lifetime of hard work, and they should not have to worry that new taxes will threaten the financial stability they have built. This measure protects their retirement savings, as well as the savings of all Californians who have planned responsibly for the future.”

“Our members spend their careers building the roads, bridges, schools, and hospitals Californians rely on every day,” said Ernesto Medrano, Executive Secretary of the Los Ángeles & Orange Counties Building & Construction Trades Council. “They put in the hard work to earn a secure retirement, and they shouldn’t have to worry about Sacramento taxing the savings they’ve spent a lifetime building. Stand with working families and vote Yes on Proposition 42.”

“California’s firefighters respond to our state’s toughest emergencies—from wildfires to rescues to medical emergencies,” said Darrell Roberts, President, California Professional Firefighters. “They should be able to count on the retirement benefits and savings they’ve worked so hard to earn through years of service. Voting Yes on Proposition 42 helps protect that retirement security.”

“Day and night, California Highway Patrol officers are out on the road, keeping travelers safe and responding to emergencies,” said Jake Johnson, President of the California Association of Highway Patrolmen. “After spending their careers serving Californians, our members should be able to count on their retirement benefits and savings. Prop 42 makes sure their retirement is protected from new taxes.”

“Peace officers put their lives on the line every day to protect California’s communities,” said Brian R. Marvel, President of the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC). “After a lifetime of service, they deserve certainty that the retirement benefits and savings they’ve worked hard to earn will be there for their families. Prop 42 protects that promise by preventing politicians from targeting retirement accounts and personal savings with new taxes.”

The coalition in support of Prop 42 is made up of retirees, blue-collar workers, first responders, seniors, veterans, small businesses and taxpayers including the California Senior Alliance, the California Small Business Association, Disabled American Veterans, Department of California, and the California Multicultural Business Alliance, among others.

Prop 42 protects Californians’ hard-earned retirement and life savings by closing a loophole in California’s Constitution that allows politicians to impose new taxes on retirement accounts, life savings, and other personal property. Californians already pay income taxes on the money they earn and shouldn’t have to pay taxes on that money again simply because it’s sitting in a retirement or savings account.

Prop 42 is needed because politicians and special interests have repeatedly introduced proposals to tax retirement savings and other personal property including AB 2088 (2019), AB 310 and ACA 8 (2021–22), and AB 259 and ACA 3 (2023–24). By closing the loophole, Prop 42 permanently protects what Californians have worked a lifetime to earn and save, providing greater peace of mind and certainty for retirement planning.