List of California ballot propositions: 2020–2029 explained

This is a list of California ballot propositions from 2020 to 2029.

Years

2020

November 3, 2020
ResultDescription
14Authorizes state bonds to be issued to the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine to continue stem cell research.[2]
15Schools and Communities First Initiative. Provides new funding for public schools, community colleges, and local government services by raising taxes on large commercial properties.[3]
16Allows government institutions to consider race, sex, or ethnicity in areas of public employment, public contracting, and public education, effectively allowing affirmative action in the public sector.[4]
17Allows people who are on parole to vote and run for public office.[5]
18Allows 17-year-olds to vote in primary and special elections if they will turn 18 by the subsequent general election.[6]
19Increases the property tax burden on owners of inherited property in favor of providing expanded property tax benefits to homeowners ages 55 years and older, disabled homeowners, and victims of wildfires and natural disasters.[7]
20Adds more crimes to the list of non-violent felonies for which early parole is restricted, and requires DNA collection for certain misdemeanors.[8]
21Allow local governments to establish rent control on residential properties that have been occupied for over 15 years and allows landlords who own no more than two homes to exempt themselves from such policies.[9]
22Grants app-based transportation and delivery companies an exception to Assembly Bill 5 by classifying their drivers as "independent contractors", rather than "employees," thereby exempting employers from providing certain mandated employee benefits.[10] [11]
23Protect the Lives of Dialysis Patients Act Initiative. Increases regulations in dialysis clinics, requiring on-site physicians during treatment, report data on infections potentially caused by dialyses, seek permission prior to closing a clinic, and strengthening anti-discrimination protections for patients.
24California Privacy Rights Act of 2020. Allows consumers to prevent businesses from sharing their personal data, correct inaccurate personal data, and limit businesses' usage of "sensitive personal information." Creates the California Privacy Protection Agency as a dedicated agency to implement and enforce state privacy laws, investigate violations, and assess penalties of violators.[12]
25Referendum to overturn a 2018 law that replaced the money bail system with a system based on public safety risk.[13]

2022

Propositions in 2022 only appeared on the general election ballot.

November 8, 2022
ResultDescription
1Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment. Adds a reproductive freedom right to the Constitution of California.[14]
26Legalizes sports betting at Native American casinos and licensed racetracks in California.[15]
27Legalizes online and mobile sports wagering that are only offered by federally recognized Native American tribes and those eligible businesses that contract with them.[16]
28Provides additional funding for arts and music education in K-12 public schools.[17]
29Requires on-site licensed medical professionals at kidney dialysis clinics, among others requirements.[18]
30Increases taxes on personal incomes over $2 million to fund programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.[19]
31A referendum on a 2020 law that prohibits the retail sale of certain flavored tobacco products.[20]

2024

November 5, 2024
ResultDescription
2Authorizes the issuance of $10 billion in bonds to fund construction and upgrades to public schools and colleges.[22]
3Repeals 2008 California Proposition 8 and declares in the state constitution that that the "right to marry is a fundamental right", effectively allowing same-sex couples to once again marry.[23]
4Authorizes the issuance of $10 billion in bonds to fund various water infrastructure, energy, and environmental protection projects.[24]
5Lowers the supermajority vote requirement from 66.67% to 55% for any county or local bond measure that would fund affordable housing projects and public infrastructure.[25]
6Repeal the line in the state constitution saying, "Involuntary servitude is prohibited except to punish crime", replacing it with language saying that involuntary servitude is prohibited absolutely.[26]
32Raises the state minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2026, then annually adjust it for inflation.[27]
33Repeals the Costa–Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995, allowing cities to once again establish their own rent controls on single-family dwellings, condominiums, and residential properties completed after February 1, 1995.[28]
34Requires health care providers that have spent over $100 million in any 10-year period on anything other than direct patient care, and operated multifamily housing with over 500 high-severity health and safety violations, to spend 98% of the revenues from federal discount prescription drug program on direct patient care.[29]
35Makes permanent the existing tax on managed health care insurance plans, currently set to expire in 2026. It would also require the revenues generated by the tax to only be used for specified Medi-Cal services, and prohibit the revenue from being used to replace other existing Medi-Cal funding.[30]
36Increases the penalties and sentences for certain drug and theft crimes from being only chargeable as misdemeanors. It would allow, among others, felony charges for possessing fentanyl and other certain drugs, and for thefts under $950, with two prior drug or theft convictions, respectively.[31]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fensterwald. John. All but final: California voters reject $15 billion state school bond. 2021-10-22. EdSource. en.
  2. Web site: Colliver. Victoria. California stem cell initiative qualifies for the November ballot. 2020-07-26. Politico PRO. en.
  3. Web site: Proposition 15 Official Title and Summary Official Voter Information Guide California Secretary of State. 2020-10-02. voterguide.sos.ca.gov.
  4. Web site: June 25, 2020. Assembly Constitutional Amendment No. 5. August 2, 2020. California Legislative Information.
  5. Web site: California Proposition 17, Voting Rights Restoration for Persons on Parole Amendment (2020). 2020-10-23. Ballotpedia. en.
  6. Web site: California Proposition 18, Primary Voting for 17-Year-Olds Amendment (2020). 2020-07-30. en.
  7. Web site: Proposition 19 Official Title and Summary Official Voter Information Guide California Secretary of State. 2020-10-05. voterguide.sos.ca.gov.
  8. Web site: California Proposition 20, Criminal Sentencing, Parole, and DNA Collection Initiative (2020). 2020-09-27. Ballotpedia. en.
  9. Web site: Qualified Statewide Ballot Measures. July 2, 2020. Secretary of State of California.
  10. News: Kerr. Dara. 5 November 2020. Proposition 22, backed by Uber and Lyft, passes. Drivers say they'll keep fighting. CNET. 5 November 2020.
  11. News: Siddiqui. Faiz. Tiku. Nitasha. 2020-11-17. Uber and Lyft used sneaky tactics to avoid making drivers employees in California, voters say. Now, they're going national.. The Washington Post.
  12. Web site: California Proposition 24: New rules for consumer data privacy. 2020-11-09. CalMatters. en-US.
  13. News: 17 August 2019. The fate of California’s cash bail industry will now be decided on the 2020 ballot. Sacramento Bee.
  14. Web site: California Proposition 1, Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment (2022). Ballotpedia. July 11, 2022.
  15. Web site: California Proposition 26, Legalize Sports Betting on American Indian Lands Initiative (2022). Ballotpedia. July 11, 2022.
  16. Web site: California Proposition 27, Legalize Sports Betting and Revenue for Homelessness Prevention Fund Initiative (2022). Ballotpedia. July 11, 2022.
  17. Web site: California Proposition 28, Art and Music K-12 Education Funding Initiative (2022). Ballotpedia. July 11, 2022.
  18. Web site: California Proposition 29, Dialysis Clinic Requirements Initiative (2022). Ballotpedia. July 11, 2022.
  19. Web site: California Proposition 30, Tax on Income Above $2 Million for Zero-Emissions Vehicles and Wildfire Prevention Initiative (2022). Ballotpedia. July 11, 2022.
  20. Web site: California Proposition 31, Flavored Tobacco Products Ban Referendum (2022). Ballotpedia. July 11, 2022.
  21. Web site: California Proposition 1, Behavioral Health Services Program and Bond Measure (March 2024). Ballotpedia. March 11, 2024.
  22. Web site: California Proposition 2 (2024). Ballotpedia. July 29, 2024.
  23. Web site: California Proposition 3 (2024). Ballotpedia. July 29, 2024.
  24. Web site: California Proposition 4 (2024). Ballotpedia. July 29, 2024.
  25. Web site: California Proposition 5 (2024). Ballotpedia. July 29, 2024.
  26. Web site: California Proposition 6 (2024). Ballotpedia. July 29, 2024.
  27. Web site: California Proposition 32 (2024). Ballotpedia. July 29, 2024.
  28. Web site: California Proposition 33 (2024). Ballotpedia. July 29, 2024.
  29. Web site: California Proposition 34 (2024). Ballotpedia. July 29, 2024.
  30. Web site: California Proposition 35 (2024). Ballotpedia. July 29, 2024.
  31. Web site: California Proposition 36 (2024). Ballotpedia. July 29, 2024.