California Voters to Decide on Ten Statewide Measures
Californians will face 10 statewide propositions on the November 2024 ballot. The propositions cover topics from education and climate change to criminal justice reform and rent control.
Other proposed ballot measures either did not secure enough signatures or were removed through negotiation or court order.
What remains will still have an impact on our industry and beyond.
What You Need to Know
Key measures:
- Proposition 2 is a $10 billion bond for K-12 and community college facilities.
- Proposition 4 is a $10 billion bond for projects that help prepare for climate change. They include water infrastructure and wildfire prevention.
- Proposition 5 lowers the voter threshold for local housing and infrastructure bonds. The threshold drops from 66.67% to 55%.
- Proposition 32 increases minimum wage to $18/hour by 2026.
- Proposition 33 expands rent control by repealing the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act
- Proposition 36 is also known as the Homelessness, Drug Addiction, and Theft Reduction Act. It aims to address concerns about repeat offenders and the perceived leniency of current laws.
Other measures address same-sex marriage language, prison labor, prescription drug spending, and Medi-Cal funding.
How It Impacts You
The investments from Propositions 2 and 4 could create more construction jobs. As well as improve the infrastructure around member buildings. The concern, however, is an additional $20 billion in debt for the state at a time of budget cuts.
Proposition 5 was placed on the ballot by the legislature through ACA 1. It’s a measure we opposed through BOMA California during the end of the 2023 legislative year.
Its companion measure, ACA 13, has been delayed to the 2026 ballot. ACA 13 makes it harder to pass taxpayer protection measures.
And of course, we lost Taxpayer Protection on the ballot due to the California Supreme Court’s decision to remove it.
It’s not all challenges on this year’s ballots. BOMA/GLA endorsed Prop. 36 survived last-minute maneuvering from the governor and legislature to remain on the ballot on its own.
With the additional tools provided by this measure, law enforcement may finally have what it needs to address the continuing challenges caused by retail theft and fentanyl drug abuse.
Other measures on the ballot will have varying impact. They include a wage increase and rent control measure.
Additionally, local cities have until the first week of August to finalize their own proposed ballot measures.
Stay Connected
Commercial real estate professionals should watch these measures closely. They must consider the measures' impacts on property values, development, and costs.
We will continue to provide dedicated information through BOMA on the Frontline during the election season.
Staying informed and engaged in local policy discussions will be crucial.
