Voters working through their ballots are faced with 10 propositions. Here’s a quick look at them:
Prop 2 — School bonds
Borrow $10 billion bond to build, repair and upgrade schools and community colleges throughout the state, including charter schools. K-12 schools will get $8.5 billion and community colleges $1.5 billion.
Supporters say the money is crucial for making basic safety improvements in schools, especially in districts where it is harder to raise funds.
Opponents of the measure say the state should budget for school repairs. They also say this bond will ultimately cost taxpayers about $18 million when repaid with interest.
Prop 3 — Marriage equality
Would enshrine the right to same-sex marriage in the state constitution. This repeals 2008’s Prop. 8, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman. Prop. 8 is still on the books but is effectively void after two Supreme Court decisions — one in 2013 allowing same-sex marriage in the state and another in 2015 allowing it nationwide. If those rulings are overturned, same-sex marriage would still be allowed in California.
Prop 4 — Environmental bonds
If passed, it would approve a $10 billion bond to spend on environmental and climate projects, with $1.9 billion going to drinking water improvements.
Proponents say this tax is a proactive approach to reducing further destruction via floods or fires by completing projects that will protect the state.
Opponents make similar arguments as Prop. 2, saying these projects need to be funded through the state’s regular budget.
Prop 5 — Reduces bond approval threshold
This measure would reduce the threshold needed to pass bonds in California from two-thirds to 55%. School district bonds already pass at 55%. This would lower the threshold for cities and counties. Supporters say changing the threshold will empower communities to fund projects in their area without having to rely on state or federal funds.
Opponents say this measure just makes it easier to increase the state’s debt and raise property taxes.
Prop 6 — Forced labor in prisons
This measure would change the state Constitution to prohibit inmate punishment to include involuntary work assignments and disciplining inmates who refuse to work. Newsom signed a law earlier this year that would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to create a voluntary work program. The agency would set wages for people incarcerated in state prisons under the law. But the law would only take effect if voters approve the forced labor ban.
Supporters say the current forced labor practices are inhumane and result in inmates working long hours on potentially risky jobs that may not contribute to future skills.
No argument against the proposition was filed but the state Republican Party is against it.
Prop 32 — Raises minimum wage
This measure would raise the state’s minimum wage to $18 an hour starting on Jan. 1. It would also raise the minimum wage to $17 for the rest of 2024. The state already raised fast food worker wages to $20. Nearly 40 California cities have local minimum wages higher than the state’s, including Palo Alto. Locally, this would apply to cities that don’t have minimum wage ordinances such as Portola Valley and Woodside.
Labor advocates say it’s necessary to keep up with the ever-rising cost of living. Opponents are worried it will cause prices to increase and hurt small businesses.
Prop 33 — Rent control changes
This measure would repeal a state law known as the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act that prevents local governments from controlling rent on single-family homes, homes built after 1995, and when tenants move out. If it passes, local governments could create measures to limit annual rent increases, and the state can’t intervene.
Tenant advocates largely support Prop. 33, they’ve raised $50 million. Landlords are bankrolling the campaign against it, raising $92.9 million.
Prop 34 — Restricts spending of prescription drug revenue
This measure would require certain providers to use 98% of revenues from federal discount prescription drug programs directly on patient care. This only applies to providers that spend at least $100 million on expenses other than on patient care and own apartment buildings. The measure appears to only apply to one organization — the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which is a primary proponent of Prop. 33. The healthcare foundation says this measure has been placed on the ballot by the California Apartment Association and other landlord groups upset with Prop. 33 and other previous rent control-related ordinances the foundation has backed. The CAA and other supporters say Prop. 34 will keep the foundation from diverting money away from its HIV and AIDS patients.
Prop 35 — Money for health care
The measure proposes to lock in billions of dollars to pay doctors more for treating low-income patients. It would take an existing tax on health insurance plans and use the money to increase payment to medical providers who see Medi-Cal patients. Medi-Cal is the subsidized insurance plan serving some 14 million Californians. It has ballooned in size with increased eligibility and benefits, but that hasn’t come with a commensurate increase in payment to doctors. Supporters say the ballot measure will make the Medi-Cal program more stable and encourage more providers to see low-income patients. Opponents warn the measure could backfire and cause the state to lose billions in federal funding.
Prop 36 — Retail theft
This is the measure you’ve probably seen commercials for. Prop. 36 would reclassify many drug and theft-related misdemeanors as felonies. The measure, heavily backed by retailers such as Walmart, Target, Home Depot and multiple law enforcement groups, is pitched as a way to combat homelessness and force people into treatment programs. The measure would reform parts of 2014’s Prop. 47, which reduced some felony theft crimes into misdemeanors. Opponents, which include Governor Gavin Newsom, say the measure will “reignite the failed war on drugs” and spend more money on prisons while reducing the funding for rehabilitation programs.
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