YES on the Sexual Assault Against Rideshare Passengers and Drivers Prevention and Accountability Act

January 2, 2026
Initiative 25-0029A1
The Attorney General of California has prepared the following title and summary of the chief purpose and points of the proposed measure:

EXPANDS LIABILITY AND IMPOSES DUTIES ON RIDESHARE COMPANIES REGARDING SEXUAL MISCONDUCT. INITIATIVE STATUTE. Classifies rideshare companies as “common carriers” under California law (like taxis, buses, and trains), requiring those companies to exercise a heightened standard of care to avoid harm to passengers. Makes rideshare companies legally responsible for sexual misconduct, including sexual assault, against riders or drivers, regardless of whether driver is an independent contractor. Requires rideshare companies to publish monthly report of sexual misconduct incidents and notify riders of known risks of sexual misconduct associated with a matched driver. Requires annual fingerprinting and background checks for rideshare drivers. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local governments: Increased state costs likely ranging from the low tens of millions of dollars to the mid-tens of millions of dollars annually to process driver fingerprint background checks, potentially to be covered by fees. Increased state court costs ranging from the millions of dollars to the low tens of millions of dollars annually to process increased civil case workload. Increased costs to CPUC in the low millions of dollars annually to develop, implement, and enforce new regulations, to be covered by fees paid by rideshare companies. (25-0029A1.)