STORY AND PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY IVAN VILLA, STAFF WRITER
Californians are preparing for the 2024 general elections which will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. Alongside Presidential, Local, and State officials on the ballot, Californians will also be voting on propositions, that if passed will go into effect sometime early next year.
According to the California Secretary of State website, Shirley N. Weber, Ph.D, there will be 10 Statewide Ballot Measures that Californians get to vote on this election.
The 10 Ballot Measures are:
Proposition 2: Authorizes Bonds for Public Schools and Community College Facilities. If passed, the state could borrow $10 billion to build new or renovate existing public schools and community college facilities. If the measure is not passed, the state cannot borrow $10 billion to build or renovate existing public schools and community college facilities.
Proposition 3: The constitutional right to marriage. This amends the California Constitution to recognize the fundamental right to marry, regardless of sex or race. It will remove language in the California constitution stating that marriage is only between a man and a woman. If passed, this measure means that language in the California constitution would be updated to match who currently can marry. If not passed, this measure means the language in the California constitution would not be changed. There would be no change in who can marry, either way.
Proposition 4: Authorizes Bonds For Safe Drinking Water, Wildlife Prevention, and Protecting Communities and Natural Lands From Climate Risks. This measure will authorize $10 billion in general obligation bonds for water, wildfire prevention, and protection of communities and lands. Requires annual audits. If passed, this measure means that the state could borrow $10 billion to fund various activities aimed at conserving natural resources, as well as responding to the causes and effects of climate change. If not passed, this measure means the state cannot borrow $10 billion to fund various activities aimed at conserving natural resources or responding to the causes and effects of climate change.
Proposition 5: Allows Approval of Local Infrastructure and Housing Bonds For Low and Middle-Income Californians with 55% vote. The Fiscal Impact would include increased local borrowing to fund affordable housing, supportive housing, and public infrastructure. The amount would depend on decisions by local governments and voters. Borrowing would be repaid with higher property taxes. If passed, this measure means certain local bonds and related property taxes could be approved with a 55% vote of the local electorate, rather than the current two-thirds approval requirement. These bonds would have to fund affordable housing and supportive housing. Or public infrastructure. If not passed, this measure means certain local bonds and related property taxes would continue to need approval by a two-thirds vote of the local electorate.
Proposition 6: Eliminates Constitutional Provision Allowing Involuntary Servitude For Incarcerated Persons. This measure will amend the California Constitution to remove current provisions that allow jails and prisons to impose involuntary servitude to punish crime. The Fiscal Impact of this measure would include potential increases or decreases in state and local costs, depending on how work for people in state prisons and county jails changes. Any effect likely would not exceed the tens of millions of dollars annually. If passed this measure means involuntary servitude would not be allowed as punishment for crime. State prisons would not be allowed to discipline people in prison who refuse to work. If not passed, this measure means that involuntary servitude would continue to be allowed as punishment for crime.
Proposition 32: Raises Minimum Wage. Raises to the minimum wage would be as follows: For employers with 26 or more employees to $17 immediately, $18 on Jan 1, 2025. For employers with 25 or fewer employees, to $17 on Jan 1, 2025, and $18 on Jan 1, 2026. The fiscal impact of this measure would be that state and local government costs could increase or decrease by up to hundreds of millions of dollars annually. State and local revenues likely would decrease by no more than a few hundred million dollars annually. If passed, this measure means that the state minimum wage would be $18 per hour in 2026. After that, it would go up each year based on how fast prices are going up. If not passed, this measure means the state minimum wage likely would be about $17 per hour in 2026. After that, it would go up each year based on how fast prices are going up.
Proposition 33: Expands Local Government Authority to Enact Control of Residential Property. This would repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995, which currently prohibits local ordinances limiting initial residential rental rates for new tenants, rent increases for existing tenants, or rent increases for existing tenants in certain residential properties. The fiscal impact of this measure would include a reduction in local property tax revenues of at least tens of millions of dollars annually due to the likely expansion of rent control in some communities. If passed, this measure means that state law would not limit the kinds of rent control laws cities and counties could have. If not passed this measure means that state law would continue to limit the kinds of rent control laws cities and counties could have.
Proposition 34: Restricts Spending of Prescription Drug Revenues by Certain Health Care Providers: This measure will require certain providers to spend 98 percent of revenues from federal discount prescription drug programs on direct patient care. It authorizes statewide negotiation of Medi-Cal drug prices. The fiscal impact of this measure includes increased state costs, likely in the millions of dollars annually to enforce new rules on certain healthcare entities. Affected entities would pay fees to cover these costs. If passed, this measure means that certain healthcare entities would have to follow new rules about how they spend the revenue they earn from a federal drug discount program. If not passed, this measure means that the new rules will not go into effect
Proposition 35: Provides Permanent Funding for Medi-Cal Health Care Services. This measure makes permanent the existing tax on managed healthcare insurance plans, if approved by the federal government it will provide revenue to pay for Medi-Cal healthcare services. If passed, an existing state tax on health plans that provides funding for certain health programs would become permanent. If not passed, the existing state law on health plans would end in 2027, unless the legislature continues it.
Proposition 36: Allows Felony Charges and Increase Sentences For Certain Drug and Theft Crimes. This measure would allow felony charges for possessing certain drugs and for theft under $950 if the defendant has two prior drug or theft convictions. If passed, this means that people convicted of certain drug or theft crimes could receive increased punishment, such as longer prison sentences. If not passed, the punishment for drug and theft crimes would remain the same.
For more information about the propositions on this year’s ballot visit https://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/. Remember, the last day to register to vote in the 2024 Presidential Election is Oct. 21, 2024.
