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By Ava Sanchez, Georgia Lewis, Simi Situ & Samantha Fong
In just a few days, California voters will decide the fate of 10 policy proposals that span crucial issues such as crime, health care, rent control, climate action, taxes, and more. In this guide, our team of policy aficionados will walk you through each of the 10 propositions, sorted by issue area. While some measures are more straightforward, others touch on more controversial topics. We'll help you break down their potential impacts so you can make an informed decision when you head to the polls.
Education:
Proposition 2: Proposes borrowing $10 billion to fund the construction and modernization of schools, allocating $8.5 billion for K-12 schools and $1.5 billion for community colleges.
If it passes: Schools across the state could invest in infrastructure improvements. This proposal also establishes a regular source of funding for school repairs, which currently exists in other states, but not in California.
Financial impact: The Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates that this proposition could create $500M in yearly state debt over the next 35 years.
Civil Rights & Social Issues:
Proposition 3: Reaffirms the right of same-sex couples to marry by removing language from Proposition 8 from the state constitution, ensuring marriage equality remains in California’s Constitution.
If it passes: The declaration that California recognizes marriage as being between a man and a woman, which was added to the state constitution following the adoption of Proposition 8, would be removed from the document. This language was overridden by the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges in 2015, but it remains in the state constitution. This is a matter of editing the state constitution versus expanding rights, as the state currently recognizes the right of same-sex couples to marry.
Financial impact: This requires no addition to the state debt.
Proposition 6: Aims to end involuntary servitude in state prisons, addressing what some view as a modern remnant of slavery.
If it passes: The California State Constitution will be amended to strengthen the ban on slavery and involuntary servitude by removing the current exception that allows it as punishment for a crime. This change would ensure that incarcerated people in California can no longer be penalized for refusing work assignments while serving their sentences.
Financial impact: According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office, “any potential increase or decrease in state and local criminal justice costs likely would not exceed the tens of millions of dollars each year (annually). This amount is less than one-half of 1 percent of the state’s total General Fund budget.”
Climate Action & Environment:
Proposition 4: Proposes borrowing $10 billion to fund climate-related programs, including $3.8 billion for water projects, $1.5 billion for wildfire programs, and $1.2 billion for sea-level rise initiatives. The remainder of the fund would be used to create parks, protect wildlife and habitats, combat air pollution, address extreme heat events, and support sustainable agriculture.
If it passes: California will invest billions of dollars into climate resilience, including water infrastructure, wildfire prevention, coastal resilience, disaster relief, and more. According to the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), a majority of this funding would “be used for loans and grants to local governments, Native American tribes, not-for-profit organizations, and businesses.”The proposition also requires that 40% of funding is invested into communities “that have lower incomes or are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change,” which can be applied across the following categories:
Drought, Flood, and Water Supply
Forest Health and Wildfire Prevention
Sea-level Rise and Coastal Areas
Land Conservation and Habitat Restoration
Energy Infrastructure
Parks
Extreme Heat
Farms and Agriculture
Financial impact: The LAO indicates that repaying the bond would increase annual state costs by $400M over 10 years. However, it would likely provide financial relief to local governments, which would otherwise bear the cost of responding to climate disasters, and could lead to savings at both state and local levels by reducing the risk or damage from such events.
JCI has been actively supporting Proposition 4 by mobilizing community-based organizations across California to advocate for its passage. With the election just one week away, our outreach highlights the critical impact this proposition could have on essential policies regarding wildfire prevention, water infrastructure, and climate resilience. From extreme heat to the ongoing threat of wildfires, California’s communities are already experiencing devastating climate effects. Proposition 4 offers a proactive investment in wildfire prevention, air quality improvement, and the protection of drinking water resources, aiming to shield our state from more costly damages. Through our partnerships with local organizations, we’re working to ensure Proposition 4 passes for a safer, more resilient California.
Housing & Infrastructure:
Proposition 5: Lowers the voter approval threshold for local housing and infrastructure bonds, making it easier for local governments to borrow money for affordable housing projects.
If it passes: The California State Constitution would be amended to lower the voter approval requirement for local general obligation bonds funding housing assistance or public infrastructure from 66% to 55%. Proposition 5 would also introduce additional oversight requirements to ensure proper use of these funds.
Financial impact: The affected bonds would require less public support to pass, which could mean that more bonds could pass. This could leave local governments with higher borrowing costs, possibly amounting to billions of dollars over the next few years. However, this may also mean that more funding is available for housing assistance or public infrastructure projects.
Proposition 33: Allows local governments to impose rent control measures by rolling back limitations on rent caps for properties built after 1995.
If it passes: Proposition 33 would allow cities and counties to impose and enforce rent control measures, reversing Costa-Hawkins, a 1995 state law that restricted this practice. Potential outcomes of this measure include increased renter protections, a possible rise in affordable housing availability, a reduction in corporate landlord influence, and a potential decrease in the overall housing stock.
Financial impact: Proposition 33 could bring increased local government costs, decreased property tax revenue, and shifts in the rental market, including reduced property values, fewer available rental units, and lower rent for those in rent-controlled units.
Labor & Wages:
Proposition 32: Increases the state minimum wage to $18 an hour, continuing wage growth in industries already seeing significant increases, like healthcare and fast food.
If it passes: Proposition 32 would raise the minimum wage by $2 starting in January 2025 and allow for annual inflation adjustments starting in 2027.
Financial impact: Californians can expect higher wages for those who have been paid less than $18 an hour, lower profits for businesses, and higher prices overall.
Healthcare:
Proposition 34: Requires certain health providers to allocate nearly all federal prescription drug program revenue to patient care, targeting the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that has supported three state rent control ballot measures, including Proposition 33 on this year’s ballot.
If it passes: The state would impose limitations on federal drug revenue spending and require transparent reporting from licensed entities Though few organizations will be impacted by Proposition 34, those that are affected will face new operational constraints.
Financial impact: Due to the tight scope of Proposition 34, it is likely that there will be minimal statewide fiscal effects. The state would have millions of dollars in enforcement costs, which would likely be passed on to affected entities by way of fees. If these entities violated the new rules they would be accountable for fees that could put them out of business, eventually leading to reduced state tax revenue.
Proposition 35: Solidifies taxes on managed healthcare insurance plans, ensuring increased funding for Medi-Cal and blocking lawmakers from reallocating these funds.
If it passes: Prop 35 would make California’s current healthcare tax plan permanent starting in 2027, including new rules for how the state can allocate the generated revenue.
Financial impact: In 2025 and 2026, no change to state tax revenue is expected. However, an
anticipated increase in tax revenue, combined with a reduction in the funds available to cover existing Medi-Cal costs, may lead to $1-2 billion in additional costs per year (or 0.5-1% of the general fund), with more funding diverted from the general fund.
Crime & Public Safety:
Proposition 36: Increases penalties for theft and drug trafficking, partly rolling back the reforms of Proposition 47, which reduced penalties for some nonviolent offenses.
If it passes: Theft of items worth $950 or less would be reclassified from a misdemeanor to a felony for people with two or more past convictions for some theft crimes, undoing the punishment reductions outlined in Prop 47. Proposition 36 also allows for the criminal justice system to extend the sentences of these crimes by up to 3 years if they were committed by 3 or more people, allows for drug-related sentences to be extended based on the amount sold, and requires some sentences to be served in prison rather than county jail. he measure also creates new court processes for drug possession crimes and requires courts to warn people that they can be charged with murder if they sell drugs leading to someone’s death.
The state prison system would face higher costs due to additional sentence types requiring state prison completion and the potential for extended sentences, resulting in more inmates and longer stays.
Financial impact: The Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates state criminal justice costs would increase by tens of millions of dollars each year, possibly reaching the low hundreds of millions of dollars annually. This money would come from the state’s General Fund and makes up 50% of the total General Fund.
Your vote this November will determine which of these ten measures becomes state law. Now that you’ve read how each policy will affect Californians, it's time to cast your vote!
If you are a vote-by-mail voter, you can find your local ballot drop-off locations here. If you prefer to vote in-person, you can find your polling place here. Whether you have already dropped off your ballot or you are waiting to cast your vote on November 5th, our team is wishing you a safe, informed election season.