Your Guide to the 2022 Statewide Ballot Initiatives

The November 2022 election is less than three months away, which means initiatives are being finalized and placed on the ballot. This election is very consequential to California’s future, from social issues to taxes and education. 

Below are the statewide initiatives that have officially qualified for the 2022 California ballot. While BOMA/GLA does not have an official position on these propositions, our advocacy staff is happy to answer any questions you might have about the following propositions.

Proposition 1 - Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment 

Initiative Summary: This initiative would amend the California State Constitution to establish a right to reproductive freedom. While abortion is legal in California, this would make it so the legislative branch cannot impede that in the future. 

Main Supporters: Governor Gavin Newsom, Speaker of the Assembly Anthony Rendon, Planned Parenthood 

Main Opposers: Assembly Member James Gallagher, Republican Party of California, California Conference of Catholic Bishops

Polling: 71% Support, 18% Oppose, 11% Undecided 

Proposition 26 - Legalize Sports Betting at American Indian Casinos and Licensed Racetracks 

Initiative Summary: This initiative would legalize sports betting at tribal casinos and licensed racetracks. It would also legalize dice games such as roulette and craps at tribal casinos. At licensed racetracks, there would be a tax of 10% on sports betting. The allocation of revenue is divided as follows: 70% to the general fund, 15% for mental health and gambling prevention, and 15% to the Bureau of Gambling Control for Enforcement. 

Main Supporters: Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gambling and many American Indian Tribes in California

Main Opposers: Taxpayers Against Special Interest Monopolies, California Commerce Club, Hawaiian Gardens Casino, and Knighted Venutres LLC

Polling: 45% Support, 33% Oppose, 22% Undecided

Proposition 27: Legalize Sports Betting and Revenue for Homeless Prevention Fund Initiative 

Initiative Summary: This initiative legalizes mobile sports betting for those at least 21 years of age. The revenue will have a 10% tax that will go toward homelessness prevention and programs. It will also set up the Division of Online Sports Betting Control in the Department of Justice to regulate mobile betting. 

Main Supporters: Californians for Solutions to Homelessness and Mental Health Support, BetMGM LLC, Fanduel Sportsbook, and Draft Kings 

Main Opposers: Californians for Tribal Sovereignty and Safe Gambling, and Coalition for Safe, Responsible Gambling

Polling: 33% Support, 53% Oppose, 9% Undecided 

Proposition 28: Art and Music K-12 Education Funding Initiative 

Initiative Summary: This initiative would require funding for K-12 public schools arts and music programs that are equivalent to at least 1% of state and local revenues received under Prop 98. It also requires schools with over 500 students to use 80% of funding to employ teachers and the remaining 20% on training and material. 

Main Supporters: Californians for Arts and Music in Schools, former LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner, former US Sec. of Education Arne Duncan, and the California Teachers Association 

Main Opposers: N/A

Polling: Not enough polling data has been released 

Proposition 29: Dialysis Clinic Requirements Initiative 

Initiative Summary: This initiative would require dialysis clinics to have at least one physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant while patients are being treated. It also requires clinics to report dialysis-related info to the State, and not discriminate against customers based on payment. 

Main Supporters: Californians for Kidney Dialysis Patient Protection

Main Opposers: Stop Yet Another Dangerous Dialysis Proposition, Republican Party of California

Polling: Not enough polling data has been released

Proposition 30 - Provide Funding for Programs to Reduce Greenhouse and Prevent Air Pollution 

Initiative Summary: Increases personal taxes by 1.75% for incomes over $2 million. The new funding is allocated as follows: 35% to Zero-Emission Vehicles (ZEV) Investment Plan Sub-Fund, 45% to the ZEV and Clean Mobility Sub-Fund, and 20% to the Wildfire Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Sub-Fund. 

Summary of estimated financial impacts: Increased annual state tax revenue ranging from $3 billion to $4.5 billion, with the additional revenue used to support zero-emission vehicle programs and wildfire-related activities. Potential increased state administrative costs paid from other funding sources could reach tens of millions to the low hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Net decrease in state and local transportation revenue of up to several tens of millions of dollars annually in the initial years, and growing to up to a few hundreds of millions of dollars annually after several years.

Main Supporters: Lyft, California Environmental Voters, the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California, and the California State Associaton of Electrical Workers

Main Opposers: the California Teachers Associaton, the California Chamber of Commerce, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and Governor Gavin Newsom. 

Polling: 63% Support, 35% Oppose, 2% Undecided

Proposition 31: Referendum on Flavored Tobacco Products Ban 

Initiative Summary: In 2020, the California Legislature banned flavored tobacco products aside from a few exceptions such as Hookah products. This initiative is a referendum on that, meaning a “yes” vote is voting to uphold that ban.

Main Supporters: Gov. Gavin Newsom, California Teachers Association, 

Main Opposers: The Republican Party of California, National Association of Tabacco Outlets

Polling: Not enough polling data has been released

For more information regarding this year’s state and local ballot initiatives, keep up with Boma on the Frontline.