On June 5, California voters will have the opportunity to vote on the statewide primary ballots. In total, there are five propositions that have been written by the California legislative counsel. Along with these five propositions, there will be more than a dozen voter-circulated ballot measures in November’s elections. Here’s what California residents can expect to see in the ballots next month.
Borrowing for the protection of parks and wildlife (Proposition 68): This $4.1 billion bond proposal was drafted last fall. Lawmakers hope this funding could be put towards conservation projects, water resources, and new parks in struggling communities. In addition, over $1.5 billion of this funding would go towards wildlife habitats and climate change combat efforts.
Ban the use of transportation money for non-transportation purposes (Proposition 69): Under current state legislation, lawmakers were often found borrowing money from the transportation funding when they need to put money elsewhere. If approved, this proposition would make it impossible to use the annual $2 billion in transportation funding for other uses besides transportation.
Climate change spending plan (Proposition 70): This proposition states that in six years, both houses of the state legislature would need to approve future spending of funding collected from California’s cap-and-trade climate law. Under these state regulations, industries pay for greenhouse gas emissions that go above the approved level.
Ballot measures must pass before going into law (Proposition 71): That’s right — there’s a proposition about propositions. Currently, state regulations allow ballot measures to take effect the day following an election. This means a proposition that is getting votes in the early returns is assumed a law. Under this new proposition, the secretary of state would need to verify that a proposition has actually passed first.
Rainwater collection systems won’t increase property taxes (Proposition 72): State laws allow home additions to increase property taxes. But under this proposition, rainwater collection systems won’t be included in those home addition guidelines. One of the best things about this proposition that not one single person argued against it in the statewide voter guide.
While there have only been 27 total constitutional amendments, states make changes to their laws on a fairly regular basis. And this upcoming vote is sure to be a good one. With a wide variety of propositions, California residents will have the chance to make a positive change in state legislation.