By Samuel Metz, THE DESERT SUN
January 1, 2020
In addition to voting for president in 2020, Californians may weigh in at the ballot box on everything from legalizing psychedelic mushrooms to allowing sports betting at tribal casinos.
The California Secretary of State has accepted applications for more than two dozen proposed ballot initiatives for next year, though thus far, only four campaigns have qualified for the ballot, either though bills passed by the legislature or by submitting the hundreds of thousands of signatures the state requires citizen-initiated propositions to collect. But several deep-pocketed interest groups are just now gearing up pricey campaigns to get their measures on the ballot.
Here is an overview of some of the propositions likely to appear on 2020’s ballots in California.
Statewide Propositions
SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION BOND: In October, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law a bill written by Assemblyman Patrick O’Donnell, D-Long Beach, to put a $15 billion bond before voters in 2020. If passed, the ballot initiative will allocate $9 billion for renovations to public preschools and grade schools throughout the state and $6 billion toward construction on community colleges, the Cal State system and the UC system.
Status: On the March ballot
PAROLE: “Keep California Safe,” a coalition led by police unions throughout the state, is backing an effort to undo changes ushered in by Prop. 57, the 2016 ballot initiative that overhauled the state parole system and allowed inmates convicted of certain crimes to earn early releases.
The initiative was part of a push to reduce overcrowding in California prisons, but detractors argue Prop. 57 has put dangerous individuals back on the streets and caused an uptick in crime rates. If approved by voters, the 2020 proposition will roll back parole reforms, strengthen punishment for individuals convicted of nonviolent crimes like theft and expand law enforcement’s DNA collection capacity.
Status: On the November ballot
MONEY-BASED BAIL: In 2018, California lawmakers voted to eliminate California’s money-based bail system and replace it with an algorithmic risk assessment system that is fairer to those who can’t afford to post bail. In 2020, the bail industry is fighting back with a proposition that, if passed, would enshrine money-based bail into the state constitution.
Status: On the November ballot
PROP. 13 REFORM: Since the 1978 passage of Prop. 13, California property owners have paid property taxes at a rate based on the market value of their homes at the time of purchase, rather than the current market value. Labor unions and Democratic Party-affiliated groups are backing a proposition to exempt commercial properties from Prop. 13 in order to increase tax revenue for school districts and local governments. Business and real estate groups warn tax increases could wreak havoc on California’s economy and have vowed to fight the initiative.
Status: On the November ballot
RENT CONTROL: In 2018, the California electorate rejected Prop. 10, which would have allowed local governments to enact their own rent control policies. In 2020, AIDS Healthcare Foundation President Michael Weinstein, the 2018 proposition’s primary backer, is returning with another attempt to change the California law that limits cities’ ability to expand rent control.
Status: Signatures submitted, awaiting Secretary of State approval to qualify for the November ballot
APP-BASED DRIVERS: Uber, Lyft and DoorDash are fighting back against a new California law that prohibits them from classifying drivers as independent contractors. The companies have pledged to spend upwards of $120 million on a ballot initiative that proposes exempting their employees from the law, AB 5. Labor unions who backed AB 5 in the legislature have vowed to fight Silicon Valley’s efforts to carve out exemptions in the worker classification law.
Status: Awaiting Secretary of State approval before beginning signature gathering for November ballot
SPORTS BETTING: Since the Supreme Court overturned a law that had banned states from legalizing sports betting, 19 states and the District of Columbia have passed laws to open the door to the industry — and the potential tax revenue it offers. In 2020, voters will get a chance to approve or reject a ballot initiative to allow sports betting at tribal casinos and racetracks. The proposition is backed by 18 California tribes, including the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, and, if the proposition is approved, would allow the tribes to preserve their monopoly on the gambling industry.
Status: Awaiting Secretary of State approval before beginning signature gathering for November ballot
KIDNEY DIALYSIS REMATCH: In 2018, labor unions put forth a ballot initiative that proposed capping kidney dialysis providers’ profits at 15% above what they spend on “direct patient care services costs” and requiring they rebate the remainder to insurance companies. The unions and dialysis providers spent more than $130 million in total on the initiative, making it the most expensive proposition battle in California history. After voters rejected the proposition, the Service Employees International Union vowed to reintroduce the initiative in 2020.
Status: Awaiting Secretary of State approval before beginning signature gathering for November ballot
MEDICAL MALPRACTICE LAWSUITS: Trial lawyers and consumer advocates are backing an initiative that proposes overturning the 1976 law that limits patients’ ability to file medical malpractice lawsuits. The law capped the amount plaintiffs could be awarded in non-economic damages at $250,000 to protect doctors, discourage frivolous lawsuits and stabilize the cost of malpractice insurance. The initiative proposes increasing the cap to $1.2 million at first and allowing it to gradually increase to keep pace with inflation. It follows a similar 2014 proposition that more than two-thirds of voters rejected.
Status: Title and summary approved by Secretary of State, gathering signatures to appear on November ballot
STEM CELL RESEARCH: California voters approved a $3 billion bond in 2004 to create a stem cell research agency. After 15 years with the funds almost dried up, stem cell research advocates are returning to voters to ask for a $5.5 billion bond to allow them to continue regenerative medicine research. Voters will decide whether the program is worth the cost, even though it has yet to produce a marketable clinical product.
Status: Title and summary approved by Secretary of State, gathering signatures to appear on November ballot
MAGIC MUSHROOMS: A group called Decriminalize California will attempt to qualify a ballot measure proposing California decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms for recreational use. If passed, the proposition would allow local governments to decide whether to license mushroom businesses within their borders.
Despite recent successes in Denver and Oakland, both which decriminalized hallucinogenic mushrooms, Decriminalize California faces an uphill battle in gathering the more than 620,000 necessary signatures without support or funding from any special interest group that routinely sponsors statewide ballot initiatives. In 2018, mushroom advocates tried to qualify a similar initiative but gave up their efforts after only collecting 90,000 signatures.
Status: Title and summary approved by Secretary of State, gathering signatures to appear on November ballot
Sam Metz covers politics. Reach him at [email protected] or on Twitter @metzsam.
