Sacramento, CA — Public safety leaders announced their support today for Yes on Prop 42, the Retirement and Personal Savings Protection Act. The California Professional Firefighters (CPF), the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, and Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) add influential new voices to a growing coalition working to protect Californians’ retirement and personal savings from new state taxes this November.

“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.”

“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.”

These public safety leaders join a broad and growing coalition of seniors, labor, small business, veterans, public safety, taxpayer advocates, and financial advisors groups supporting the measure, including the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, the California Senior Alliance, the California Small Business Association, Disabled American Veterans, Department of California, and the California Multicultural Business Alliance, among others.

As families struggle to keep up with rising costs, recent legislative proposals have raised serious concerns about the future of retirement security in the state. Politicians have tried repeatedly to pass taxes on retirement and personal savings accounts, including AB 2088 (2019), AB 310 and ACA 8 (2021–22), and AB 259 and ACA 3 (2023–24).