Following are brief summaries of the measures that will appear on the November 8 General Election ballot. When the California Chamber of Commerce has taken a position, the reasons for that position are summarized.
The CalChamber encourages employers to share this information with their employees. Businesses are within their rights to do so — just remember: NO PAYCHECK STUFFERS, no coercion, no rewarding or punishing employees (or threatening to do so) for their political activities or beliefs.
For more guidelines on political communications to employees, see the brochure at www.calchamber.com/guidelines. Note the distinction between internal communications (to employees, stockholders, and their families) and communications to external audiences (such as nonstockholder retirees, outside vendors, customers and passersby).
For more information on the ballot measures, see the links listed below or visit the website of the Secretary of State at www.sos.ca.gov.
Proposition 1
Constitutional Right to Reproductive Freedom. Legislative Constitutional Amendment.
Amends California Constitution to expressly include an individual’s fundamental right to reproductive freedom, including the right to choose to have an abortion and the right to choose or refuse contraceptives. The amendment does not narrow or limit existing rights to privacy and equal protection.
Placed on Ballot by: Legislature: SCA 10 (Atkins; D-San Diego), Chapter 97, Statutes of 2022.
Ballot Arguments For
Proposition 1 places in the Constitution the fundamental right to an abortion and the fundamental right to contraceptives. It protects individual choices on reproductive care and the right to choose to have an abortion, keeping medical decisions where they belong — between a patient and their provider.
More Information
www.Yeson1CA.com
Ballot Arguments Against
Proposition 1 is an extreme law that allows late-term abortions at taxpayer expense up to the moment of birth, even if the baby is healthy and the mother’s life isn’t threatened. Current state law already guarantees a woman’s right to choose.
More Information
www.NoProposition1.com
Proposition 26
Allows In-Person Roulette, Dice Games, Sports Wagering on Tribal Lands. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Also allows sports wagering at certain horseracing tracks and private lawsuits to enforce certain gambling laws. Directs revenues to the state’s General Fund, problem gambling programs, enforcement.
Placed on Ballot by: Petition signatures.
CalChamber Position: No Position
Ballot Arguments For
Proposition 26 limits sports wagering to adults only and supports Indian self-reliance by providing revenue for tribal education, health care and other vital services. Proposition 26 promotes safe, responsible gaming and helps stop and prevent illegal gambling.
More Information
www.Yeson26.com
Ballot Arguments Against
Proposition 26 is a massive expansion of gambling that will lead to more underage gambling and addiction. It is sponsored by five wealthy gaming tribes that want to expand their monopoly on gambling to include sports betting and will devastate other communities of color.
More Information
www.VoteNoOnProp26.org
Proposition 27
Allows Online and Mobile Sports Wagering Outside Tribal Lands. Initiative Constitutional Amendment and Statute.
Allows Indian tribes and affiliated businesses to operate online/mobile sports wagering outside tribal lands. Directs revenues to regulatory costs, homelessness programs, nonparticipating tribes.
Placed on Ballot by: Petition signatures.
CalChamber Position: No Position
Ballot Arguments For
Proposition 27 is supported by California tribes, homelessness and mental health experts. It will permanently fund housing, mental health and addiction treatment by regulating and taxing online sports betting. Proposition 27 contains strict rules protecting minors, regular audits, and oversight by the Attorney General.
More Information
yestoprop27.com
Ballot Arguments Against
Proposition 27 is a deceptive scheme funded by out-of-state gambling corporations to legalize a huge expansion of online and mobile sports gambling. Out-of-state corporations would receive 90% percent of the profits. Proposition 27 is opposed by more than 50 California tribes.
More Information
noon27.com
Proposition 28
Provides Additional Funding for Arts and Music Education in Public Schools. Initiative Statute.
Provides additional funding from the state General Fund for arts and music education in all K–12 public schools, including charter schools.
Placed on Ballot by: Petition signatures.
CalChamber Position: No Position.
Ballot Arguments For
Barely 1 in 5 California public schools have a full-time arts or music program. Proposition 28 provides additional funding to ensure every student in public school from pre-kindergarten to grade 12 has access to arts and music education without raising taxes. Protects existing education funding. Includes strict accountability, transparency provisions. Parents, teachers and children support.
More Information
voteyeson28.org
Ballot Arguments Against
No argument was submitted in opposition to Proposition 28.
Proposition 29
Requires On-Site Licensed Medical Professional at Kidney Dialysis Clinics and Establishes Other State Requirements. Initiative Statute.
Requires a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant on site during treatment. Requires clinics to disclose physicians’ ownership interests, report infection data.
Placed on Ballot by: Petition signatures.
CalChamber Position: Oppose
Arguments Against
Because dialysis treatment is prescribed by a patient’s personal physician and administered by specially trained nephrology nurses and patient care technicians, the physician on-site requirement is unnecessary and would dramatically increase the costs of care. The increased costs would be passed along to everyone in the form of higher insurance premiums and higher taxes for government-sponsored health care, and cause many dialysis clinics to become financial unsustainable and possibly close. California voters have rejected nearly identical dialysis propositions in each of the last two elections.
More Information
noprop29.com
Proposition 30
Provides Funding for Programs to Reduce Air Pollution and Prevent Wildfires by Increasing Tax on Personal Income Over $2 Million. Initiative Statute.
Allocates tax revenues to zero-emission vehicle purchase incentives, vehicle charging stations, and wildfire prevention.
Placed on Ballot by: Petition signatures.
CalChamber Position: Oppose
Arguments Against
Proposition 30 burdens the most productive elements of our economy with a punitive income tax increase, which will raise the marginal tax rate on incomes to 15.05%, by far the highest in the country. This will not only discourage investment in California, but add to the volatility of the income tax and resulting state budget revenues.
Proposition 30 is also unnecessary. The Governor and Legislature have devoted billions in state surplus revenues to create incentives for electric vehicle purchases and deploy statewide charging infrastructure. Accelerating these subsidies would threaten the capacity and reliability of the state’s electrical grid.
Proposition 30 is opposed by a diverse coalition, including the CalChamber, Governor Gavin Newsom, the California Teachers Association, and numerous taxpayer, small business, local chamber, labor and veterans organizations.
More Information
votenoprop30.com
Proposition 31
Referendum on 2020 Law That Would Prohibit the Retail Sale of Certain Flavored Tobacco Products.
A “yes” vote approves and a “no” vote rejects a 2020 law prohibiting the retail sale of certain flavored tobacco products.
Placed on Ballot by: Petition signatures.
CalChamber Position: No Position
Ballot Arguments For
Voting yes on Proposition 31 protects kids by ending the sale of candy-flavored tobacco, including e-cigarettes and minty menthol cigarettes. Of kids who have used tobacco, 80% started with a flavored tobacco product. A yes on 31 vote will save lives and save taxpayers money by preventing tobacco-related health care expenses.
More Information
voteyeson31.com
Ballot Arguments Against
Proposition 31 is an unnecessary prohibition for adults. It already is illegal to sell tobacco products, including vapes, to anyone under age 21. Proposition 31 will cost taxpayers $1 billion over four years while enabling criminal gangs to control increased smuggling and underground markets, leading to more neighborhood crime.
More Information
votenoonprop31.com
Proposition Subject Position
Proposition 1
Constitutional Right to Reproductive Freedom
Proposition 26
In-Person Sports Wagering on Tribal Lands
No Position
Proposition 27
Online and Mobile Sports Wagering Outside Tribal Lands
No Position
Proposition 28
Additional Funding for Arts and Music in Public Schools
No Position
Proposition 29
On-Site Licensed Medical Professional at Kidney Dialysis Clinics
Oppose
Proposition 30
Funding for Zero-Emission Vehicle Purchase Incentives, Wildfire Prevention
Oppose
Proposition 31
Referendum on Law Prohibiting Sales of Certain Flavored Tobacco Products
No Position
