California Ballot Propositions for November 5, 2024 Election - League of Women Voters Nevada County

League of Women Voters of Nevada County Presents CALIFORNIA BALLOT PROPOSITIONS For the November 5, 2024 Election

Unbiased presentation So you can decide how to vote We provide The Question to Voters The Situation - an unbiased description Fiscal Impacts Campaign donations What supporters and opposers say

10 State Ballot Measures in November 2024 All require 50% voter approval to pass. Half are from the State Legislature Half are from more than 546,651 citizens who signed a petition.

3 Constitutional Amendments & 2 Bonds Constitutional Amendments & Bonds require: 2/3 vote of Legislature to get on the ballot + majority approval of voters to pass

Budgets & Bonds Bonds Long-term borrowing for major projects Paid over 30-40 years with interest from General Fund General Fund This year s budget is $210B Half comes from individual income tax Half comes from sales tax & corporate tax

Information Sources Calmatters.org Ballotpedia.org LAO.ca.gov Cal-access.sos.ca.gov Reliable sources: TIP: Paid advertising is least reliable For more, see www.lwvnevadacounty.org

Proposition 2: Public Schools General Obligation Bond Placed on the ballot by the State Legislature Question Do you want the state to borrow $10B to repair & modernize public schools and community colleges?

Proposition 2 Public School Bonds Situation State & School Districts share cost to repair and build schools Last 20 years: $181B local bonds + $32B state bonds Proposal 1. Allow state to sell $10B in bonds for public schools. 2. Increase state contributions to public school funding. Fiscal Effects $500M a year for 35 years to pay it off

Sept 22: $6M Top Donors: construction companies Proposition 2 supporters say Too many students attend schools with damaged buildings and safety hazards. School districts in lower income areas have no other way to pay for improvements. Sept 22: no contributions Proposition 2 opponents say State has $20B of unissued bonds and still must pay unfunded pension liabilities and retiree benefits. Education should have been in the General Fund budget. Instead of spending billions on school construction, California needs a long-term solution to achieve excellence in reading, writing, and math.

Proposition 2: What your vote means YES: You want to authorize $10B in bonds to fund public school and community college construction, renovation, and modernization. NO: You do not want to issue this bond for public school facilities.

Proposition 3: Marriage Equality State Constitutional Amendment Placed on the ballot by the State Legislature Question Do you want marriage to be legal in California regardless of gender?

Proposition 3 Marriage Equality Situation California state constitution says: Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California Proposal Remove the sentence from the state constitution that limits marriage to only between a man and a woman. Add to the state constitution that marriage is a fundamental right of life, liberty & the ability to pursue safety, happiness and privacy. Fiscal Effects None

Sept 22: $3M Top Donors: Federated Indians, Kevin DeLeon, Teachers, Toni Atkins, Nurses Proposition 3 supporters say It protects against future US Supreme Court rulings that may remove protection of same-sex marriage. Sept 22: no contributions Proposition 3 opponents say Marriage has been defined as a union between a man and woman from the beginning and cannot be redefined.

Proposition 3: What your vote means YES: You want to change the state Constitution to specify that marriage is a right regardless of gender. NO: You want the state Constitution to remain as it is today, stating that marriage is between a man and a woman only.

Proposition 4: Natural Resources General Obligation Bond Placed on the ballot by the State Legislature Question Do you want the state to issue a bond for $10B to be spent on drought mitigation, parks, and climate mitigation?

Proposition 4 Natural Resources Situation $54B planned investment reduced to $9.4B due to projected deficit. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 40% of 1990 levels by 2030 is at risk. Over the past decade, the state spent $13B each year on natural resources and climate activities. Proposal Allow the state to sell $10B in bonds for drought mitigation, parks and climate mitigation. Fiscal Effects State would pay $400M annually for 40 years. Reduced cost to recover from future climate damage.

Sept 23: $4M Top Donors: Nature Conservancy Groups Proposition 4 supporters say Climate change could cost California more than $113B annually by 2050. Wildfires, water pollution, and extreme heat threats are too urgent not to act now. California has long been a leader in environmental issues Sept 23: no contributions Proposition 4 opponents say Bonds are the most expensive way to pay for projects. Climate change should be included in the state budget. The state projects a deficit.

Proposition 4: What your vote means YES: You want to authorize a bond for $10B to reduce the risk and impacts of climate change. NO: You don t want to authorize a $10B bond for climate change mitigation.

Proposition 5: Local Bond Voting Requirements Constitutional Amendment Placed on the ballot by the State Legislature Question Do you want to lower the supermajority from 66.7% to 55% for local bonds and taxes?

Proposition 5 Local Voting Requirements Situation Local bonds used for large infrastructure projects require 66.7% voter approval to pass Proposal Lower the voting approval requirement to 55% for local bonds. Fiscal Effects 20% - 50% would have passed with 55% approval Increased local funds of a couple $B over several years. Borrowing costs likely to raise property tax.

Sept 23: $5M Top Donors: Chan Zuckerberg Proposition 5 supporters say Allowing 1/3 of voters to overrule the majority is undemocratic and makes it too hard for local governments to borrow money. Prop 5 allows local voters to fund their own priorities without relying as much on state or federal funding. Sept 23: $30M Top Donors: Realtors Proposition 5 opponents say Local government borrowing costs almost always get put on property taxes and property owners are a minority of voters.

Proposition 5 What your vote means YES: You want to make it easier for local governments to borrow money for affordable housing and local infrastructure by lowering the vote threshold from 66.7% to 55%. NO: You want the voting threshold to stay the same, at 66.7%, for local bonds and taxes

Proposition 6: Forced Labor Constitutional Amendment Placed on the ballot by the State Legislature Question Do you want to end forced labor as punishment for crimes?

Proposition 6 Forced Labor Situation The constitution prohibits forced labor except as punishment for crimes Inmates who refuse to work can face punishments Proposal Amend the state constitution to prohibit involuntary servitude for any reason. Fiscal Effects o Increased jail costs if inmates are paid more to encourage them to work. o Decreased jail costs if more time credits are issued.

Sept 23: $947K Top Donors: Criminal justice advocacy groups Proposition 6 supporters say Involuntary servitude is an extension of slavery. Prop 6 still allows inmates to work voluntarily. Proposition 6 opponents say Sept 23: no contributions The current work system promotes order aimed at rehabilitation. Allowing inmates to turn down work could make prison management more difficult.

Proposition 6: What your vote means YES: You want to amend the state constitution to prohibit forced labor as punishment for crimes. NO: You do not want to change the state constitution, which allows forced labor for incarcerated people.

Proposition 32: Minimum Wage Placed on the ballot by a Citizens Initiative Question Do you want to increase California s minimum wage?

Proposition 32 Minimum Wage Situation Statewide minimum wage is $16 an hour Some industries and cities have higher minimum wage. Proposal Raise the minimum wage to $18 an hour for all employees by 2026. Fiscal Effects Increased costs to government and business due to higher wages. Decreased cost of social services for low-income people.

Sept 22: $610K Top Donors: Kevin DeLeon, Joe Sanberg Proposition 32 supporters say $27.32/hr is required to afford basics. Minimum wage workers spend more to boost the economy. Corporate profits have more than doubled since 2002 and worker pay has not. Sept 22: $65K Top Donors: Business PAC, Grocers, Retailers, Restaurants Proposition 32 opponents say Markets, not politicians, should dictate wages. Businesses are still recovering from the Pandemic. Income tax credits might better support low-wage workers.

Proposition 32 What your vote means YES : You want to increase the state minimum wage to increase to $17 or $18/hr in 2025, depending on the size of the company, and to increase it to $18 for all companies by 2026, with yearly inflation increases after that. NO : You want to keep minimum wage the way it is, at $16/hr. with annual inflation increases.

Proposition 34: Medi-Cal Drug Pricing Placed on the ballot by a Citizens Initiative Questions 1. Do you want to formalize the state s negotiation policy for Medi-Cal drugs? 2. Do you want to restrict how much some Medi-Cal prescription providers spend on things other than health care?

Prop 34 Medi-Cal Drug Pricing Situation Medi-Cal provides healthcare to low-income people. The state saves money with a streamlined negotiation policy for Medi-Cal drugs. Healthcare providers can earn more profit by participating in the Federal Drug Discount program. Proposal 1. Make the current Medi-Cal drug negotiation policy a state law. 2. Restrict how profits from the Federal Drug Discount program are spent by healthcare providers who also own low-income rental property. Fiscal Effects Minimal.

Sept 21: $30M Top Donors: CA Apartment Assn, CA Association of Realtors Proposition 34 supporters say Prop 34 forces abusers of the Federal Drug Discount Program to provide more healthcare to low-income patients instead of on substandard rental housing. Sept 21: $1.1M Top Donors: AIDS Healthcare Foundation Proposition 34 opponents say Being poor and homeless are major risk factors for contracting AIDS. Housing reduces the risk of contracting AIDS, even if that housing is substandard.

Proposition 34 What your vote means YES: (1) You want the state policy of direct negotiations for MediCal drug prices to be enacted into law. (2) You want health care providers who also own low-income housing to be required to spend 98% of profits they gain from the federal drug discount program on health care. NO: No change to the current programs.

Proposition 33: Rent Control Placed on the ballot by a Citizens Initiative Question Do you want cities and counties to be able to limit residential rent increases?

Proposition 33 Rent Control Situation Some cities have rent control laws limiting how much rents increase. State law prevents rent control on single family homes, for housing built after February 1995, and for new renters moving in. Proposal Allow cities and counties to have the option to control rent increases without limitations from the state. Fiscal Effects The value of rental property will decrease.

Sept 20: $40M Top Donors: AIDS Healthcare, Kevin DeLeon Proposition 33 supporters say Gives rent control decisions to local governments. Rents are increasing faster than salaries. People are leaving the state because of the high cost of rent. Sept 20: $67M Top Donors: Realtors, CA Apartments Proposition 33 opponents say Lower rents lead to property deterioration. Rent control distracts from the necessity of affordable housing. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, a major supporter, owns homes that violate health & safety laws.

Proposition 33 What your vote means YES: You want cities and counties to have the option to control rent increases without limits from the state. NO: You want the state to continue to limit the kinds of rent control laws cities and counties could have, as it is today.

Proposition 35: Health Insurance Tax & Medi-Cal Reimbursement Placed on the ballot by a Citizens Initiative Question Do you want the current tax on health insurance plans to become more automatic with more of that money to go certain health care services differently than the way it is today?

Prop 35 Health Plan Tax & Medi-Cal Situation More than 1/3 of the state population uses Medi-Cal A tax on health insurance companies provides matching federal funds. Medi-Cal has expanded over the past 10 years and reimbursement to providers has not kept pace. Proposal Make the existing tax on health insurance companies more automatic. Create new rules for how the money can be spent Fiscal Effects Funding to Medi-Cal and other state health programs would increase $2B - $5B for several years

Sept 22: $49M Top Donors: Hospitals, Ambulances, Physicians Proposition 35 supporters say More of the money from the health insurance plan tax should be used for investments in Medi-Cal, rather than supporting the state s general fund. As of Sept 22: No contributions Proposition 35 opponents say California could experience a $56B deficit over the next 2 years and restricting how the Medi-Cal revenue is spent makes it difficult to balance the state budget.

Proposition 35 What your vote means YES: You want to require the state to automatically request federal approval for the tax on health insurance plans and you want that money allocated to health care services different from today. NO: You do not want the health plan tax to become permanent and you do not want to change how the money from the health plan tax is spent.

Proposition 36 Criminal Penalties Placed on the ballot by a Citizens Initiative Question Do you want to increase penalties for certain drug & theft crimes?

Prop 36 Criminal Penalties Situation Some drug possession and theft crimes changed from felonies to misdemeanors 10 years ago to reduce prison population. Proposal Change some misdemeanors into felonies. Lengthen some sentences. Fiscal Effects Increased costs of tens to hundreds of millions of dollars annually for jails and mental health & drug treatment.

Sept 22: $11.5M Top Donors: Walmart, Target, Home Depot, IN-N-OUT, 7-11 Proposition 36 supporters say Homelessness has increased since sentencing reforms and Prop 36 will force people into treatment. It s a good compromise between prison capacity at a breaking point, and the sentencing reforms that created chronic retail theft. Sept 22: $1.7M Top Donors: Patty Quillin, Stacy Schusterman, SEIU, ACLU Proposition 36 opponents say This reverses the state s reduction of over-crowded prisons. It would cost taxpayers billions to imprison more people without reducing crimes.

Proposition 36 What your vote means YES: You want to increase penalties for certain drug crimes including classifying certain drug offenses as treatment- mandated felonies and you want to increase sentences for repeat theft offenders. NO: You want criminal penalties to remain the same.

For More Details... For more information, head to: www.lwvnevadacounty.org

QUESTIONS?

Thank you! County Elections will begin mailing ballots October 7th , 2024 Be sure to vote!