After having to search through more than five dozen names to find our choice for Governor of California on our primary-election ballot, we’ll have to read fourteen propositions on our November ballot. Headlines have concentrated on Governor Newsom’s plan to tax the extremely wealthy, but thirteen other ballot proposals will affect the lives of millions of Californians. So, be prepared for lots of TV ads, appeals on social media, and an overfull mailbox.
Prop. 1: Affordable housing
According to the Los Angeles Times, The Veterans and Affordable Housing Bond Act of 2026 includes “specific funding for high-need groups, including $1.25 billion for a veterans’ home loan program, $1.15 billion for supportive housing for homeless people, $350 million for student housing at state universities, $450 million for farmworker housing, and $200 million for Native American tribes.”
Prop. 2: California’s future
This seems to be some type of housekeeping proposition. According to Charlie Borla, writing for the Daily Breeze, “Proposition 2… would increase the cap on the state’s rainy day fund from 10% to 20%.” For the fiscal year 2025-2026, the fund held about $11.2 billion; for 2026-2027 the proposal increases that to $15.1 billion. Introduced to the Assembly as ACA 20, the bill passed, for the most part, along party lines.
Prop. 3: School funding
In 2012, Californians passed a tax on high-income earners to help finance local school districts and community colleges. This law was extended in 2016. It is scheduled to expire in 2031, but Prop. 3 — if passed — would make the law permanent.
Prop. 4: Financing campaigns
This measure, if passed, would allow candidates for elective offices to qualify for public campaign financing. An analysis of the bill indicates that none of the public financing “can come from funds designated for education, transportation, or public safety” and the money cannot be used by candidates for legal costs or as repayment for personal campaign loans.
Prop. 5: Recall elections
This is a constitutional amendment. If passed, when a public official is recalled from office, the office will remain vacant until “it is filled in accordance with existing law — either by a separate election or by appointment,” according the Los Angeles Times. CalMatters points out that the proposition would allow the recalled official to run for the office again.
Prop. 37: Home loan program
This would allow middle-income Californians (earnings less than 200 percent of the area’s median income) to borrow most of the money required for the down-payment for the purchase of a house, according to CalMatters. Currently a typical down-payment is 20 percent. Under this program, a homebuyer could borrow up to 17 percent, and only come up with 3 percent from personal accounts.
Prop. 38: Immunology research
Writing for the Los Angeles Times, Jim Cooke states, “Proposition 39 asks voters to approve an $8.4-billion bond to support research in the burgeoning fields of immunology and immunotherapy, which study the human immune system.” The focus of attention will be on the prevention and treatment of diseases. Passage of this proposal would create a new immunology and immunotherapy research institute affiliated with the University of California.
Prop. 39: Voter identification
If Proposition 39 passes, California voters would have to present government-issued ID when voting in person or provide the last four digits of a government issue ID number when voting by mail. The Los Angeles Times’ Jim Cooke points out, “Currently, Californians must affirm under penalty of perjury that they are U.S. citizens and provide information to verify their identity, such as their birth date, driver’s license, or Social Security number, when registering to vote, but they don’t have to present identification when they cast their ballots.”
Prop. 40: Billionaire tax
This ballot measure proposes to place a one-time five percent tax on people whose assets are valued at more than $1 billion. Ninety percent of the revenues would be spent on healthcare, and ten percent on food assistance and education. The Los Angeles Times article states, “The Legislative Analyst’s Office estimates it would generate ‘tens of billions of dollars’ spread over several years, but would lead to an annual decrease in state income tax revenues of ‘hundreds of millions of dollars or more.” There was no information about how these figures were derived.
Prop. 41: Special taxes
This is one of two ballot measures crafted by opponents of Proposition 40. According to CalMatters, “If voters approve both measures (Proposition 40 and Proposition 41), the one with more votes will prevail.
Prop. 42: Personal property tax
This is the other proposition that opposes the “Billionaire Tax.” CalMatters states, “This measure is also aimed at undercutting the wealth tax proposal. It would prevent new taxes on personal property, which would offset the wealth tax.” The wording will actually void the wealth tax, if it were passed.
Prop. 43: Voter approval
Currently, proposals for special taxes as well as citizen initiatives require a majority vote to pass. Under Proposition 43, both would require a two-thirds approval by voters. Theoretically, the passage of this proposition would make it more difficult to impose or increase new taxes.
Prop. 44: Health clinics
Cooke writes that if passed, Proposition 44 would require qualified health centers to spend 90 percent of their revenue on “program services advancing their charitable purpose” rather than management expense or overhead costs. According to CalMatters, “Clinics that don’t comply would be fined; the money would go into a state-operated account for worker training and staffing.”
Prop. 45: CEQA Reform
This is really an amendment to the existing California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Its purpose is to speed up the process for projects that are deemed “essential” to environmental protection. These include housing, water, health, public safety, energy, and transportation projects.
Be sure to vote on November 3. The continued success of our republic works only when we exercise our rights and privileges.
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Jim Glynn es Profesor Emérito de Sociología. Se le puede contactar en j_glynn@att.net.