State

California Flavored Tobacco Products Ban Referendum (2022)
Proponents of the veto referendum seek to overturn Senate Bill 793 (SB 793), which was signed into law on August 28, 2020. SB 793 was designed to ban the sale of flavored tobacco products and tobacco product flavor enhancers, with exceptions for hookah tobacco, loose leaf tobacco, and premium cigars. Retailers would be fined $250 for each sale violating the law.[1]

The California State Legislature passed SB 793 in August 2020. The legislation received support from most legislative Democrats (84 of 89) and a quarter of legislative Republicans (8 of 30). One legislator voted against the bill, and the remaining legislators were absent or abstained. State Sen. Jerry Hill (D-13), the legislative sponsor of SB 793, said, “Using candy, fruit and other alluring flavors, the tobacco industry weaponized its tactics to beguile a new generation into nicotine addiction while keeping longtime users hooked. SB 793 breaks Big Tobacco’s death grip.”[2] The California Fuels & Convenience Alliance, which opposed SB 793, described the flavored tobacco ban as “misguided policy that will do more harm than good” and “hurt small businesses, eliminate necessary tax revenue, and perpetuate dangerous and avoidable police interactions in our communities.”[3]


SB1130: The Telecommunications California Advanced Services Fund Bill- An act to amend Sections 281,912.2, and 914.7 Utilities Code, related to telecommunications (CA State)
Allows the California state government to actively promote the transition of the state’s legacy communications infrastructure into a multi-gigabit fiber network that is competitive, affordable, and available to all residents lacking high-speed access. The legislation would put California on par with its international competitors, end the digital divide for Californians, and prevent a repeat of the lack of connectivity challenges residents have faced as they engage in social distancing, remote education, and working from home. This bill deals with outdated broadband requirements that don’t meet the needs of modern applications, remote education, and the needs of underserved areas. Hence, this bill qill raise the CA Advanced Services funds requirements in terms of what communities are served – and provides a path for the development of broadband and modern fiber infrastructure development in underserved communities.The ballot initiative would make an exception for properties whose business owners have $3.00 million or less in holdings in California; these properties would continue to be taxed based on their purchase price. The ballot initiative would exempt a small business’s tangible personal property from taxes and $500,000 in value for a non-small business’s tangible personal property.[1]


AB965: Resentencing of Youth Offenders- An act to amend Section 3051 of the Penal Code, related to parole (CA State)
This bill would require a person’s youth offender parole hearing to occur within 6 months of the first year they become eligible for a youth offender parole hearing under those provisions. The bill would also authorize the Secretary of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to authorize those persons to obtain an earlier youth offender parole hearing by adopting regulations pursuant to specified provisions of the California Constitution.


AB1835: The Educational Finance and Accountability Bill- An act to add Section 42238.09 to the Education Code, related to education finance (CA State)
AB – 1835 (the Educational Finance and Accountability bill) which will ensure accountability of our school districts to identify and report supplemental LCFF concentration grant funds – and ensure that these funds are spent on unduplicated students or students who need them the most.


AB193: The Student eligibility in Public Postsecondary Education Bill- An act to add Section 66205.4 to the Education Code, related to public postsecondaty education and declaring the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately (CA State)
Questions the Cal State University system’s consideration of raising admissions requirements to include an additional year of quantitative reasoning – which we believe will deepen the divide in the student achievement gap across the state and impact the admission of underrepresented students. This bill will require the Cal State and UC system to discuss the impact of these changes on underrepresented community, calls for an independent study, and requires consultation with the k-12 and community college systems before moving ahead..


ACA5/Prop 16: Repeal Prop 209- Repeal Proposition 209 Affirmative Action Amendment(2020) (CA State)
which will turn around the reality that California is only of 9 states to have banned affirmative action, has led to a 12 -60% reduction in enrollment of students of color in the UC system – and will allow for the operating of programs that provide equal opportunity and economic advancement. The California Constitution, pursuant to provisions enacted by the initiative Proposition 209 in 1996, prohibits the state from discriminating against, or granting preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting. The California Constitution defines the state for these purposes to include the state, any city, county, public university system, community college district, school district, special district, or any other political subdivision or governmental instrumentality of, or within, the state.

Prop 15: Schools and Communities First- Tax on Commerical and Industrial Properties for Education and Local Goverment Funding Initiative (CA State)
The ballot initiative would amend the California State Constitution to require commercial and industrial properties, except those zoned as commercial agriculture, to be taxed based on their market value. In California, the proposal to assess taxes on commercial and industrial properties at market value, while continuing to assess taxes on residential properties based on the purchase price, is known as split roll. The change from the purchase price to market value would be phased-in beginning in fiscal year 2022-2023. Properties, such as retail centers, whose occupants are 50 percent or more small businesses would be taxed based on market value beginning in fiscal year 2025-2026 (or at a later date that the legislature decides on).
The ballot initiative would make an exception for properties whose business owners have $3.00 million or less in holdings in California; these properties would continue to be taxed based on their purchase price. The ballot initiative would exempt a small business’s tangible personal property from taxes and $500,000 in value for a non-small business’s tangible personal property.[1]


Prop 57
Campaign to reinvest in rehabilitation with the CDCR to focus on education, forgiveness, and healing; also redirects funds back into the community.