State desk
Ranks 44th of 50 on the Liberty Index, with the highest gas tax in the country and the highest top income tax rate.
Where California stands on 12 policies, sourced from our 50-state trackers, with the latest headlines from 76 California outlets.
12 policies · each strip is all 50 states, grouped by rule · California in red. Free to cite with attribution.
A permit is required and notably restrictive; applicants must show good moral character and pass extensive review.
California is 1 of 6 states with this rule
29 · Constitutional (Permitless) Carry15 · Shall-Issue Permit
California taxes individual income at graduated rates rising to 13.30 percent across 10 brackets, the highest top rate in the country.
California is 1 of 26 states with this rule
8 · No Income Tax1 · Capital Gains Only15 · Single Flat Rate
California charges 73.64 cents per gallon in state tax, ranking 1 of 50, which is among the highest in the country. With the federal 18.40 cents added, a driver pays 92.04 cents per gallon in tax. Diesel is taxed at 92.94 cents.
California is 1 of 17 states with this rule
16 · Near the Middle17 · Among the Lowest
Retains the death penalty; governor ordered a halt to executions in 2019.
California is 1 of 4 states with this rule
23 · Retains the death penalty23 · Abolished
Not a right-to-work state; union-security agreements are permitted.
California is 1 of 24 states with this rule
26 · Right-to-Work
State minimum wage is $16.90, above the federal $7.25 floor; adjusted annually for inflation.
California is 1 of 30 states with this rule
12 · Matches the Federal Floor3 · Below Federal, So Federal Applies5 · No State Minimum Wage Law
No ID is required; voters confirm identity by signature or personal information matched against the registration rolls.
California is 1 of 14 states with this rule
10 · Strict Photo ID14 · Photo ID Requested4 · Strict Non-Photo ID8 · ID Requested (No Photo)
No private-school-choice ESA, voucher, or tax-credit scholarship program.
California is 1 of 17 states with this rule
17 · Universal / Near-Universal16 · Limited Program
California permits the use of deadly force in self-defense through judicial decisions or jury instructions rather than a stand-your-ground statute.
California is 1 of 7 states with this rule
31 · No Duty to Retreat12 · Not Listed by NCSL
Every registered voter is automatically mailed a ballot for all elections; no request is required.
California is 1 of 8 states with this rule
29 · No-Excuse Absentee13 · Excuse Required
California's unemployment rate was 5.1% in September 2026, seasonally adjusted, unchanged from August. It ranks 49th lowest of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.), down from 48th. A year earlier, in September 2025, it was 5.5%. The U.S. rate was 4.2%.
Data retrieved from the BLS public API on October 30, 2026. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.
Elected statewide to a four-year term.
California is 1 of 43 states with this rule
5 · Appointed by the governor1 · Chosen by the legislature1 · Appointed by the state supreme court