As results are flooding in for the 2024 elections and key races are being called, here are the results to date of 10 California propositions, with outcomes called by the Associated Press:
Prop. 2 (Bonds for building schools): Passed
With passage of this proposition, the state can borrow $10 billion to build or renovate K-12 public schools and community college facilities. According to California’s Legislative Analyst’s office, $8.5 billion would be reserved for K-12 schools and $1.5 billion is directed toward upper education.
To repay the bond, the state needs to pay an estimated $500 million per year over a 35-year period. The Legislative Analyst Office said the potential effect on local costs statewide is unclear.
AP called this race on Nov. 6 and as of Nov. 11, there were 58.1% of votes in favor and 41.9% against.
Prop. 3 (Constitutional right to marriage): Passed
While federal courts have said that same-sex marriage is legal, outdated language in the California Constitution from Proposition 8, passed by voters in 2008, says that marriage can only be between a man and a woman.
With voter approval, this proposition will update the Constitution to match what federal courts have said.
AP called this race shortly after the first election results were released on Nov. 5. There were 62.6% votes in favor and 37.4% of votes against as of Nov. 11.
Prop. 4 (Bonds for climate programs): Passed
Proposition 4, also known as the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Prevention and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024, authorizes a $10 million bond toward climate programs:
- $3.8 billion would go toward drought, flood and water supply, meaning money would be used to store water for future droughts, clean polluted water so it’s safe to drink and reduce the risk of floods by capturing and reusing stormwater.
- $1.5 billion would be used to improve the health of forests and reduce the risk of wildfires.
- $1.2 billion would restore coastal areas and protect from rising sea levels.
- $1.2 billion is for land conservation and habitat restoration.
- $850 million would go toward the development of wind turbines off the coast of California.
- $700 million would be used for expanding parks.
- $450 million would go toward protecting communities from extreme heat.
- $300 million would go toward agriculture, specifically for activities that encourage farmers to improve soil health, reduce air pollution and use less water.
It will cost the state $400 million annually for 40 years to repay this bond.
The effect on local governments, according to California’s Legislative Analyst’s office, would vary.
State funding could replace the funding that local governments would have to pay out of its own for certain projects. Or, it could encourage the governing body to spend more money on larger projects than they would.
This proposition had 59.3% of votes in favor as of Nov. 11 and 40.7% of votes against. AP called the race the day after the election.
Prop. 5 (Local bonds for affordable housing): Not passed
Voters rejected this measure, which would have made it easier for local governments to fund affordable housing and infrastructure projects. Currently, to borrow money, cities and counties require the support of at least two-thirds of voters. With Proposition 5, that number would have been lowered to 55%.
As of Nov. 8, when AP called the race, this proposition had 56.2% of votes against it and 43.8% of votes for it.
Prop. 6 (Ending forced labor in state prisons): Not passed
AP called this race on Nov. 10. As of Nov. 11, there were 53.4% of votes against this proposition and 46.6% in favor.
Currently, prison inmates can be required to work as a punishment for crime. This is known as involuntary servitude. The Legislative Analyst’s office says that many of these workers are paid less than $1 an hour, but they can also earn “time credits” to reduce their total time in jail.
If passed, this proposition would have banned involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime. State prisons would not be allowed to punish inmates for refusing to work. However, the measure would not stop prisons from granting people time credits if they choose to work.
Prop. 32 (Raising minimum wage to $18 an hour): Pending
With 49% of votes in favor of this proposition and 51% against it, this race has not been called yet.
The current minimum wage in California is $16 an hour. If Proposition 32 passes, it would hike up to $18 an hour by 2026. In 2025, the minimum wage would vary depending on the size of the employer – $17 where there are 25 employees or less and $18 for any employer with 26 or more employees.
Prop. 33 (Extending rent control): Not passed
A vote in favor of this proposition would have meant the state couldn’t limit the kinds of rent control that local governments enforce, such as putting a cap on how much a landlord increases rent.
AP called this race shortly after the first election results were released. As of Nov. 11, only 39.4% of votes were in favor, while 60.6% were against.
Prop. 34 (Revenue from prescription drug program spent on patient care): Pending
As of Nov. 11, there were 50.8% votes in favor of this proposition and 49.3% of votes against it. This race has not been called yet.
There is a 30-year-old law that gives a discount on pharmaceutical drugs to health care providers that are public or private nonprofits serving low-income patients. They are exempt from paying tax on their revenue.
Prop 34, if it passes, would establish rules to make sure that providers are spending 98% of their revenue on patient care and, if not, enforce penalties.
Prop. 35 (Permanent tax on health care insurance plans): Passed
There is an existing tax on certain healthcare plans, such as Kaiser Permanente, based on the number of people they provide coverage to.
According to the Legislative Analyst’s office, this tax is expected to bring in $7 billion to $8 billion to the state each year. These excess funds are then used to pay for existing costs in Medi-Cal – the federal-state program that provides health coverage to people of low-income – and to increase its funding.
Since that tax is not permanently approved by the California Legislature, it will expire at the end of 2026. Adoption of this proposition makes the tax permanent beginning in 2027.
AP called this race shortly after election results were released on Nov. 5, and as of Nov. 11, there were 67.5% of votes in favor and 32.5% of votes against.
Prop. 36 (Increased sentences for drug and theft crimes): Passed
Passage of this proposition means the state will reclassify some misdemeanor theft and drug crimes as felonies. This proposal was written to undo aspects of Proposition 47, a 2014 measure that made select theft and drug crimes misdemeanors to reduce prison overcrowding.
Prop. 36 requires the state to create a new process for drug possession crimes, increasing penalties for certain drug and theft crimes.
This race was called by AP on Nov. 5. As of Nov. 11, 69% of votes were in favor and 31% of votes were against.
