Coalition files petition signatures from across the state in support of one-time tax on billionaires to keep hospitals and emergency rooms open

LOS ANGELES, CA – Frontline healthcare workers and allies with the California Billionaire Tax coalition announced today that they have reached a major milestone on the path to qualifying the initiative for the ballot this November and ensuring billionaires pay their fair share to keep the state’s hospitals and emergency rooms from closing. 

At a press conference led by frontline healthcare workers and their supporters, the coalition announced that by the end of Monday, April 27, they will have filed more than 1,550,000 signatures in support of the California Billionaire Tax Act to the state Attorney General and county registrars. 

Powered by a broad, grassroots network of healthcare workers, union members, and community advocates, the coalition gathered signatures across every region of the state.

The massive signature totals along with recent polling both demonstrate overwhelming public support for a one-time, emergency 5% tax on California’s billionaires to keep local hospitals and ERs open, fund food aid, and support K-14 public education.

“When funding is cut, it brings a world of pain. It means longer ER waits, fewer healthcare workers, rural hospitals shutting down, delayed care, and lives lost that could have been saved,” said Mayra Castañeda, an ultrasound technologist for 28 years and a member of SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West. “It’s clear that most Californians and most billionaires recognize how reasonable and necessary this proposal is — both to keep emergency rooms open and to save California businesses from closing.” 

California’s billionaires pay much lower tax rates than what working families pay out of every paycheck. And soon, massive federal healthcare funding cuts will push key parts of the California healthcare system to the brink of collapse, or worse. Local hospitals and emergency rooms could shut their doors forever because billionaires insist on paying less than the rest of us. By adding their names to the petition, California voters have signaled their intention to vote YES on the billionaire tax to ensure billionaires pay their fair share.

The one-time tax will generate billions in critical funding to offset cuts that have already begun impacting hospitals, emergency rooms, and clinics statewide. The more than 400 hospitals statewide have already laid off more than 3,400 healthcare workers as of mid-March, with a second wave of layoffs expected as funding cuts tied to recent federal policy changes are phased in over the next several years. Statewide, projections show the cuts could result in the loss of up to 145,000 health care jobs, impacting hospitals, clinics, and home care providers alike. 

Without revenue from the California Billionaire Tax, federal healthcare cuts are expected to put an estimated 83 California hospitals and clinics at risk of closure. Cuts and closures have already started, impacting communities from Los Angeles, to Oakland, to Glenn County.  

“AFSCME endorsed the California Billionaire Tax because we cannot let California’s billionaires get away with destroying our local hospitals and clinics with their greed,” said AFSCME Local 3299 Executive Director Liz Perlman. “Our members, our families, and our neighbors agreed, and enthusiastically added their names in support of the billionaire tax. Now, we’re so pleased to be celebrating with you here today that we are one step closer to taxing billionaires and ensuring that California’s hospitals and ERs stay open.”

Experts note that measures such as the Massachusetts Fair Share Amendment and Washington State’s capital gains tax have generated billions in new revenue for public services, and the number of high-income residents AND their cumulative wealth in both states have increased since the policies went into effect.

“We rallied, we spoke to our friends and neighbors, we collected signatures, and together, we are one step closer to the California we deserve,” said Teamsters Local 396 member Jared Hamil. “We deserve to be able to afford to see a doctor when we’re sick. We deserve to know our local hospital will be open and ready to treat you in an emergency. In a nation as rich as ours, that’s the least we deserve.” 

Tax experts have underscored that what makes the billionaire tax unique is how it’s designed to be fair and enforceable — so billionaires can’t avoid responsibility by moving their assets or claiming residency elsewhere after the now-passed January 1, 2026 deadline for residency changes. 

With signatures now submitted, the coalition awaits verification by county registrars as it moves toward qualifying for the November 2026 ballot.

Impact of federal healthcare cuts 

• Dozens of hospitals and ERs will close; dozens more will be forced to cut back services and lay off healthcare workers. The patient care crisis will worsen as patients are forced to wait longer and drive further for medical care. 
• Up to 3.4 million Californians could lose their healthcare coverage under Medicaid, including many seniors, children, veterans, and people with disabilities 
• The state could lose about $20 billion in federal healthcare funding every year — destabilizing the health care system and driving up health care costs for everyone.
• Insurance premiums for Californians who purchase Affordable Care Act plans could rise as much as 97%, and an estimated 400,000 Californians could be priced out of healthcare altogether. 

Impact of food assistance cuts

• Currently, 5.5 million Californians benefit from food aid. 3.5 million are senior citizens and children.
  
• At least 754,000 people could lose their entire monthly benefit, with over 3 million households facing reductions.
  
• The estimated funding loss is $2.5 to $4.5 billion annually.
  
• The SNAP/Cal-Fresh cuts, if not backfilled by other funding mechanisms, are expected to cost California approximately 400,000 jobs over the next nine years.

About the California Billionaire Tax Act

The California Billionaire Tax Act proposes a one-time emergency tax on the wealth of the state’s ultra-high-net-worth individuals to safeguard Medi-Cal, keep hospitals and emergency rooms open, expand food assistance, and support public education. The initiative is a direct response to federal healthcare cuts under HR1 that threaten healthcare access and economic stability for millions of Californians.

Paid for by Save California Health Care and Public Education, Sponsored by Service Employees International Union – United Healthcare Workers West.  Committee’s Top Funder  Service Employees International Union – United Healthcare Workers West

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