Dr. Shirley Weber, CA’s Secretary of State
California voters will have the opportunity to decide on a proposed constitutional amendment that would limit certain compensation and attorney fees in automobile accident cases after the measure qualified for the November 2026 ballot, Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber announced.
The initiative became eligible for the Nov. 3, 2026, General Election ballot on June 17 after supporters gathered enough valid signatures to meet state requirements. The measure is expected to be formally certified on June 25 unless it is withdrawn by its proponents before that date.
If approved by voters, the proposal would make several changes to how compensation is awarded in motor vehicle accident cases. Among its provisions, the measure would limit the fees attorneys can collect when representing accident victims on a contingency basis, requiring that victims retain at least 75% of any monetary recovery. The restriction would not apply to attorneys representing defendants.
The initiative would also increase the burden of proof for certain medical expenses claimed by accident victims and limit the amount that can be recovered for those costs. In addition, it would prohibit certain financial arrangements between attorneys and medical providers.
To qualify for the ballot, the measure needed 874,641 valid signatures, equal to 8% of the votes cast for governor in the 2022 election. According to the Secretary of State’s Office, the initiative exceeded the threshold required to qualify through random sampling, a process that allows measures to advance if projected valid signatures surpass 110% of the required total.
A fiscal analysis prepared by the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) and the Department of Finance found the proposal could produce annual savings for California trial courts ranging from millions to tens of millions of dollars. The savings would depend on how many motor vehicle accident lawsuits are filed and how quickly remaining cases are resolved.
The analysis also found the measure could increase Medi-Cal costs by millions to tens of millions of dollars annually because some accident victims may receive less compensation that would otherwise help offset health care expenses covered by the state program.
The initiative was submitted by proponents John Moffatt and Kurt R. Oneto. If certified later this month, the measure will appear before California voters in the November 2026 election.
