Property Tax Reform
Prop 15
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
Prop 16
PAROLEE VOTING RIGHTS
Prop 17
TEEN PRIMARY VOTING
Prop 18
Property TRANSFER TAX
Prop 19
stem cell research
Prop 14
CRIMINAL CODE CHANGES
Prop 20
RENT CONTROL
Prop 21
APP DRIVER EMPLOYMENT
Prop 22
DIALYSIS CLINIC CHANGES
Prop 23
DATA PRIVACY
Prop 24
ELIMINATING CASH BAIL
Prop 25
Authorizes $5.5 billion in general bonds to go to stem cell research, including research on treating Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Argument For:
Universities, nonprofits and other research groups need more funding to continue this vital medical research. The $3 billion in funding provided by Prop 71 in 2004 has been depleted.
There isn’t enough oversight on how the money will be spent.
Supporters: California Democratic Party, UC Board of Regents, several medical institutions, among others
Opponents: The nonprofit Center for Genetics and Society
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Next: Prop 15
More about Prop 14
Argument Against:
PROPOSITION 14
FUNDING FOR STEM CELL RESEARCH
STEM CELL RESEARCH
WHERE YOUR PARTY STANDS
Amends the constitution to allow commercial properties to be taxed at market value rather than purchase price. There are exceptions for properties zoned as commercial agriculture and companies valued under $3 million. This proposition revises 1978’s Prop 13, which requires all California properties (residential and commercial) to be taxed at their purchase price with an annual increase of 2% or inflation, whichever is lower. Of the new tax revenue, 60% would go to local governments and 40% to school districts and community colleges. Residential properties (i.e. homes) are not affected.
California companies like Chevron and Disneyland sit on extremely valuable property, make lots of money and don’t pay taxes on their land’s market value. Plus, schools desperately need the funding.
The massive tax increase will prompt companies to flee California at a time when businesses are already struggling.
Supporters: Dozens of Democratic lawmakers, several CA school districts, California Teachers Association
Opponents: Several local chambers of commerce, Ted Gaines (Republican on the CA Board of Equalization), and several local branches of the NAACP
Next: Prop 16
More about Prop 15
PROPOSITION 15
Increase Commercial Property Taxes For Education Funding
Opponents: Several local chambers of commerce, Ted Gaines (Republican on the CA Board of Equalization)
Supporters: Dozens of Democratic lawmakers, several CA school districts, California Teachers Association & advocacy groups like the ACLU
CLICK HERE TO SEE WHERE YOUR PARTY STANDS ON THIS AND OTHER PROPOSITIONS
Repeals 1996’s Proposition 209, which banned the government and public institutions (like schools) from discriminating or giving preferential treatment based on sex, race, ethnicity or nationality. Prop 209 effectively banned public employers, universities and the like from using affirmative action, as it was seen as discriminatory.
Repealing the constitutional amendment would allow California’s public institutions to work toward greater diversity. Plus, federal law preventing discrimination still stands.
Discrimination is bad even whether it benefits historically underprivileged groups or not.
Supporters: Dozens of California Democrats, including Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris, as well as teachers’ unions, the ACLU and the UC Board of Regents
Opponents: Two Republican state senators, a handful of former Republican U.S. representatives, including Darrell Issa
Next: Prop 17
More about Prop 16
PROPOSITION 16
Repeal Prop 209 To Allow Affirmative Action
Amends the constitution to allow those on parole for a felony conviction to vote in elections. Current California law prevents people from voting if they’re imprisoned or on parole for a felony crime. Prop 17 only amends the latter half of that law.
The change would restore voting rights to a disenfranchised group of people that have fully completed their prison sentences and are reintegrating into society.
People on parole are still being closely monitored and haven’t had their full rights to freedom restored; voting should fall under that category.
Supporters: Several prominent California Democrats, the ACLU and League of Women Voters
Opponents: California State Sen. Jim Nielson, who represents Tehama County
Next: Prop 18
More about Prop 17
PROPOSITION 17
Allows parolees the right to vote
Would amend the state constitution to allow 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the time of the general election to vote in primary or special elections that precede them.
Young people who are legally allowed to participate in general elections should be able to participate in that full electoral cycle.
Seventeen year olds are legally children and therefore too young to vote.
Supporters: California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, plus it had majority Democrat support when it started as an amendment in the Assembly
Opponents: When it was being considered in the Assembly, the opposition was largely Republican.
Next: Prop 19
More about Prop 18
PROPOSITION 18
Grant some 17-year-olds right to vote in primaries
Changes some tax assessment rules on property transfers by homeowners 55 or older or those who have lost a home in a natural disaster. Those homeowners would be able to transfer their tax assessment to a more expensive home 3 times (instead of the currently allowed 1 time) with an upward adjustment. It would also eliminate one exemption that exists when someone transfers a home to a child or grandchild; if the recipient doesn’t use the home as their primary residence, its tax value would be reassessed under Prop 19. The resulting revenue would go to establishing a Fire Response Fund.
Empty nesters aren’t putting homes on the market to downsize because they fear paying higher taxes on a new house. It also closes a loophole that allows wealthy people to pass on homes to children who use them as rental properties.
The prop, backed by real estate special interests, eliminates one loophole, but it creates a bigger problem by allowing wealthy homeowners to continue reaping the benefits of Prop 13 from 1978. Plus, revenue from property taxes shouldn’t be earmarked for fire suppression.
Supporters: California Association of Realtors
Opponents: Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and several newspaper editorial boards
Next: Prop 20
More about Prop 19
PROPOSITION 19
Changes certain property tax rulES
Makes it so firearm theft, vehicle theft and unlawful use of a credit card are classified as “wobblers,” meaning they can be charged as misdemeanors or felonies. Prop 20 also establishes two new crimes in the code, serial crime and retail organized crime, also both wobblers. The proposition also expands mandatory DNA collection to those convicted of certain misdemeanors.
The proposition gives prosecutors the discretion to pursue harsher sentences in retail crimes.
The change in crime classification would lead to over-sentencing of nonviolent crimes and contribute to overcrowding in prisons.
Supporters: Two assembly members, a Democrat and a Republican, a few law enforcement unions and the Albertsons Safeway grocery chain
Opponents: Former Gov. Jerry Brown and the ACLU of Northern California
Next: Prop 21
More about Prop 20
PROPOSITION 20
Reclassifies certain crimes and expands DNA collection
Allows local jurisdictions to put rent control in place for all kinds of housing, including single family homes, condos and townhomes. There are two exceptions: if the home or building is newer (first occupied in the past 15 years) and if the landlord only owns up to two properties. This proposition would replace the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995. Under Costa-Hawkins, landlords can raise rents after a tenant moves out, but Prop 21 would put a limit on how much they can raise the rent of a vacated unit to 15% over three years.
Renters need more protections in California’s expensive housing market and the proposition would allow local governments the ability to expand more of those protections.
More rent control could worsen the housing crisis by reducing private builders’ profit incentive to build more housing.
Supporters: CA Democratic Party, Sen. Bernie Sanders & Michael Weinstein, who has funded previous rent control campaigns
Opponents: Several trade unions, real estate groups, veterans groups and more
Next: Prop 22
More about Prop 21
PROPOSITION 21
Rent control overhaul
Establishes app-based drivers – including Uber and Lyft rideshare drivers and food delivery drivers like DoorDash, Instacart, etc. – as contract workers instead of employees and establishes labor laws specific to this kind of job. The new wage and labor rules would include a minimum wage floor while online and working, healthcare subsidies for frequent drivers and accident insurance. This would exempt gig worker drivers from Assembly Bill 5 (or AB5).
Classifying drivers as employees, as is law under AB5, would make these services more expensive & companies wouldn’t be able to offer as many positions, meaning less work & flexibility for drivers.
The companies are trying to use the ballot proposition to avoid paying drivers hourly wages and offering them benefits they are entitled to under current California law.
Supporters: Companies like Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Postmates and Instacart, as well as several chambers of commerce organizations
Opponents: Prominent Democrats like Joe Biden, Sen. Kamala Harris, Sen. Elizabeth Warren; several labor organizations
Next: Prop 23
More about Prop 22
PROPOSITION 22
classifies rideshare/delivery drivers as contract workers
Requires dialysis clinics to have at least one physician present while patients are being treated (except where there’s a shortage), to report patient infection data to the state and to get consent from the state before closing. The measure also bans clinics from discriminating on the basis of who is paying for a patient’s care.
The increased regulations will make clinics safer for patients and make sure patients with any insurance will be treated equally.
The increased regulations would make care more costly for and less available to patients.
Supporters: SEIU healthcare workers union
Opponents: For-profit dialysis clinics like DaVita and Fresenius and the California Medical Association
Next: Prop 24
More about Prop 23
PROPOSITION 23
Dialysis clinic requirements
Argument AGAINST:
Modifies the California Consumer Privacy Act to force companies to honor consumers’ requests that their data not be shared and to get permission before collecting data on teens and children. It also would let consumers opt out of personal information being used for marketing and request incorrect information about them be corrected. The proposition would establish a new agency to oversee consumers’ data privacy.
The law would give people with privacy concerns more control over where and how their data is used.
The long and wonky ballot initiative contains loopholes and provisions that actually weaken consumer protections (in some cases) compared to existing California law. It also gives large corporations an advantage over individuals with fewer financial and legal assets.
Supporters: Alastair Mactaggart, an SF real estate developer, put forward the ballot initiative and Andrew Yang is listed as a supporter.
Opponents: The ACLU of California and Consumer Federation of California
Next: Prop 25
More about Prop 24
PROPOSITION 24
Consumer data privacy protections
Senate Bill 10 eliminated the cash bail system in California and replaced it with an algorithmic risk assessment method that determines who gets released from jail while awaiting trial based on risk to society instead of ability to post bond. This is a referendum on that law, a process in California that allows the people to essentially veto or uphold a law by putting it on the ballot. A yes vote upholds SB 10, while a no vote repeals it.
SB 10 creates a system that is fairer to everyone accused of crimes and the bail bonds businesses is only putting the issue on the ballot to try and continue profiting off the cash bail system.
The new risk assessment system is also flawed as it still leaves room for racial bias, so it is not a good replacement for California’s longstanding cash bail system.
Supporters: Dozens of California Democratic lawmakers, the California Democratic Party and the League of Women Voters
Opponents: The American Bail Coalition, several chambers of commerce and Human Rights Watch
Next: Prop 14
PROPOSITION 25
Eliminate the cash bail system, or go back to it
More about Prop 25
ENDORSEMENTS AT A GLANCE
WHERE YOUR PARTY STANDS ON THESE PROPOSITIONS
CA REPUBLICANS
CA DEMOCRATS
CA GREEN
CA LIBERTARIAN
CA PEACE & FREEDOM
CA PROGRESSIVE
NO
YES
Where does your party stand on these propositions?
WHere your party stands on the propositions
PROPS 20-25