Authorizes $10 billion in general obligation bonds for repair, upgrade, and construction of facilities at K–12 public schools (including charter schools), community colleges, and career technical education programs, including for improvement of health and safety conditions and classroom upgrades. Requires annual audits. Fiscal Impact: Increased state costs of about $500 million annually for 35 years to repay the bond. Supporters: California Teachers Association; California School Nurses Organization; Community College League of California Opponents: Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

Recommendation: Support ✅

Learn more: https://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/2/

Authorizes $10 billion in general obligation bonds for water, wildfire prevention, and protection of communities and lands. Requires annual audits. Fiscal Impact: Increased state costs of about $400 million annually for 40 years to repay the bond. Supporters: Clean Water Action; CALFIRE Firefighters; National Wildlife Federation; The Nature Conservancy Opponents: Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

Recommendation: Support ✅

The Santa Maria Valley Chamber supports Proposition 4, which would allocate $10 billion in bonds to finance state and local parks, environmental protection efforts, water infrastructure, energy projects, and flood protection measures. Utilizing bonds is a cost-effective approach to funding vital infrastructure for parks, environmental conservation, energy and water resources, and falls in line with the Santa Maria Valley Chamber’s Policy Platform.

Learn more: https://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/4/

Allows approval of local infrastructure and housing bonds for low- and middle-income Californians with 55% vote. Accountability requirements. Fiscal Impact: Increased local borrowing to fund affordable housing, supportive housing, and public infrastructure. The amount would depend on decisions by local governments and voters. Borrowing would be repaid with higher property taxes. Supporters: California Professional Firefighters; League of Women Voters of California; Habitat for Humanity California Opponents: California Taxpayers Association; California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce; Women Veterans Alliance

Recommendation: Support ✅

The Santa Maria Valley Chamber supports Proposition 5, it will allow local jurisdictions the opportunity to ask its voters to bond for critical public infrastructure and affordable housing with a 55% support requirement rather than a supermajority vote requirement. Santa Maria Valley County has missed out on potentially hundreds of millions in matching funds from the state and federal government investment in our infrastructure, because of past bond failures. This amendment would apply to any relevant local bond measures on the November 5 ballot if approved. It also mandates that local jurisdictions conduct an annual audit to ensure funds are used as intended until all proceeds are spent.

Learn more: https://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/5/

Amends the California Constitution to remove current provision that allows jails and prisons to impose involuntary servitude to punish crime (i.e., forcing incarcerated persons to work). Fiscal Impact: Potential increase or decrease in state and local costs, depending on how work for people in state prison and county jail changes. Any effect likely would not exceed the tens of millions of dollars annually. Supporters: Assemblymember Lori Wilson Opponents: None submitted

Recommendation: Neutral 🔘

Learn more: https://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/6/

Raises minimum wage as follows: For employers with 26 or more employees, to $17 immediately, $18 on January 1, 2025. For employers with 25 or fewer employees, to $17 on January 1, 2025, $18 on January 1, 2026. Fiscal Impact: State and local government costs could increase or decrease by up to hundreds of millions of dollars annually. State and local revenues likely would decrease by no more than a few hundred million dollars annually. Supporters: None submitted Opponents: California Chamber of Commerce; California Restaurant Association; California Grocers Association.

Recommendation: Oppose ⛔️

The Santa Maria Valley Chamber opposes Proposition 32, which would raise the minimum wage to $18 per hour. Minimum wage changes should be made through legislative action rather than ballot measures, and if passed, this proposition would hurt small and local businesses.

Learn more: https://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/32/

Repeals Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995, which currently prohibits local ordinances limiting initial residential rental rates for new tenants or rent increases for existing tenants in certain residential properties. Fiscal Impact: Reduction in local property tax revenues of at least tens of millions of dollars annually due to likely expansion of rent control in some communities. Supporters: CA Nurses Assoc.; CA Alliance for Retired Americans; Mental Health Advocacy; Coalition for Economic Survival; TenantsTogether Opponents: California Council for Affordable Housing; Women Veterans Alliance; California Chamber of Commerce

Recommendation: Oppose ⛔️

The Santa Maria Valley Chamber opposes Proposition 33, which seeks to repeal the Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (1995). This would allow cities and counties to impose rent control on any housing and regulate rent for tenants. The proposition also includes language that would prevent the state from limiting local governments’ authority to maintain, enact, or expand residential rent control.

While the Santa Maria Valley Chamber recognizes the challenges of housing affordability in the current market, this proposition is not the solution and would wreak havoc on the housing market both locally and statewide.

Learn more: https://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/33/

Requires certain providers to spend 98% of revenues from federal discount prescription drug program on direct patient care. Authorizes statewide negotiation of Medi-Cal drug prices. Fiscal Impact: Increased state costs, likely in the millions of dollars annually, to enforce new rules on certain health care entities. Affected entities would pay fees to cover these costs. Supporters: The ALS Association; California Chronic Care Coalition; Latino Heritage Los Angeles Opponents: National Org. for Women; Consumer Watchdog; Coalition for Economic Survival; AIDS Healthcare Foundation; Dolores Huerta

Recommendation: Neutral 🔘

The Santa Maria Valley Chamber is neutral on Proposition 34, which would mandate that healthcare providers who: -spend more than $100 million within any ten-year period on activities other than direct patient care, and -operate multifamily housing with more than 500 high-severity health and safety violations

Learn more: https://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/34/

Makes permanent the existing tax on managed health care insurance plans, which, if approved by the federal government, provides revenues to pay for Medi-Cal health care services. Fiscal Impact: Short-term state costs between roughly $1 billion and $2 billion annually to increase funding for certain health programs. Total funding increase between roughly $2 billion to $5 billion annually. Unknown long-term fiscal effects. Supporters: Planned Parenthood Affiliates of CA; American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists; American Academy of Pediatrics, CA Opponents: None submitted

Recommendation: Support ✅

The Santa Maria Valley Chamber supports Proposition 35, which would permanently authorize a tax on managed care organizations based on monthly enrollees, currently set to expire in 2026. The revenues generated would be used to enhance Medi-Cal programs.

Learn more: https://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/35/

Allows felony charges for possessing certain drugs and for thefts under $950, if defendant has two prior drug or theft convictions. Fiscal Impact: State criminal justice costs likely ranging from several tens of millions of dollars to the low hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Local criminal justice costs likely in the tens of millions of dollars annually. Supporters: Crime Victims United of California; California District Attorneys Association; Family Business Association of California Opponents: Diana Becton, District Attorney Contra Costa County; Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice

Recommendation: Neutral 🔘

The state legislature passed and the Governor recently signed 10 bills that enact tougher laws on organized retail theft – an issue that the Santa Maria Valley Chamber actively advocated for.

Learn more: https://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/propositions/36/

Recommendation: Support ✅

Learn more: https://www.noozhawk.com/two-santa-maria-area-school-districts-agree-to-put-bond-measures-on-ballot/

Recommendation: Support ✅

Learn more: https://santamariatimes.com/news/local/santa-maria-bonita-bond-measure-would-support-citys-projected-growth/article_774c7024-861b-5afd-ba60-042763856bac.html