Proponents: Don H. Lippman and Christopher A. Sutton

Changes procedures for condemning property if property will not be owned and permanently used by the acquiring public entity. Requires government to prove by clear and convincing evidence that property is needed for public use and condemnation will benefit a significant segment of public with no disproportionate benefit to private person or group. Eliminates presumption in favor of government and requires issues regarding use and compensation be decided by jury. Limits condemnation to needed part of property and allows property owners who successfully defend against condemnation to recover litigation expenses. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Probably no significant net fiscal impact on state and local governments. (Initiative 07-0099.) (Full Text)

Proponents: Karen England and Brad Dacus (916) 498-1940

Removes statutory language prohibiting teaching or school activity that “promotes a discriminatory bias” against persons based on specified characteristics. Inserts new language prohibiting teaching or school activity that “reflects adversely upon” persons based on certain characteristics, including race, sex, color, creed, disability, national origin, religion or ancestry. New language excludes sexual orientation, gender identity or behavior, or association with persons with specified characteristics. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: This measure would have no direct fiscal effect on state or local government. (Initiative 08-0001.) (Full Text)

Proponent: Christopher Springer

Amends constitution to legalize marijuana and hemp within California and to provide for broad individual constitutional rights, including rights to food, shelter, medical care, and to be free from “unreasonable” taxation. Allows marijuana to be sold in any store that sells alcohol. Establishes local boards with expansive powers, including powers to regulate and tax marijuana. Requires marijuana tax revenues support specified programs. Exempts marijuana sales profits from income tax. Forbids most testing for marijuana used outside the workplace. Prohibits most marijuana, alcohol, and tobacco advertisements. Immunizes marijuana growers and sellers from liability. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Potential savings of up to several tens of millions of dollars annually to state and local governments, which would no longer incur the costs of incarcerating and supervising certain marijuana offenders. Potential costs of up to the tens of millions of dollars to state and local governments to fund the one-time start-up costs of the local boards. A potentially significant increase in state and local spending on substance abuse treatment services that could possibly be partially or fully offset by revenues from this measure. Potential increased revenues in the tens of millions to low hundreds of millions of dollars annually from marijuana stamps and licenses to support specified programs and the local boards. Unknown but potentially significant increase in state and local revenues from collection of sales and use taxes on the sale of Marijuana. Unknown but potentially significant decrease in state and local revenues from taxes on tobacco and alcohol due to a prohibition of advertising for these goods that would likely result in a decline in sales. (Initiative 08-0009.) (Full Text)

Proponents: Don H. Lippman and Christopher A. Sutton

Prohibits use of certain property tax revenues allocated from a redevelopment project area to secure the payment of a bond, loan, advance, or other debt, unless approved by a local ordinance and a two-thirds vote at a county-wide election. Requires certain information to be contained in an ordinance approving use of redevelopment property tax revenue to secure debt. Requires counties to establish procedures for elections seeking approval for the use of redevelopment tax revenue to secure debt. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Over time, potential major shift in property tax revenues from redevelopment agencies to cities, counties, special districts, and schools. Increased property tax revenues to schools would result in a comparable decrease in required state spending for education. (Initiative 08-0010.) (Full Text)

Proponent: Laura Storms

Repeals bonds voters authorized in 2004 to fund the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine. Voids contracts entered into by Institute before November 5, 2008. Requires Legislature to spend $900 million to construct and fund an umbilical cord blood and adult stem cell research facility that also performs certain defined embryo adoptions and implantations. Prohibits funding of human embryonic stem cell research. Requires Legislature to appoint 35 member governing board to oversee new facility. Requires taxpayers to pay all legal costs proponent incurs fighting challenges to initiative. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Potential state savings of about $120 million annually over the next few decades resulting from reduced principal and interest costs for bonds to fund stem cell research. Unknown potential loss of state or local revenue gains and cost savings due to reduced stem cell research funding. Unknown gain of state revenues for fees related to embryo adoptions. Unknown potential gain of local government revenue due to possible allocation of patent or license revenues to local governments. (Initiative 08-0011.) (Full Text)

Proponent: Paul McCauley

Imposes one-time tax of at least 55% on property exceeding $20 million of a California resident or held in California by nonresident. Imposes one-time tax (between 36.5% - 54.3%) on income exceeding $10 million when resident dies or leaves California. Imposes additional 17.5% tax on total incomes of taxpayers with income exceeding $150,000 if single, $250,000 if married; 35% if incomes exceed $350,000 if single, $500,000 if married. Creates tax credits. Requires State to acquire shares of specified corporations to influence environmental practices. May exempt new revenues from education funding requirements. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: One-time increase in state revenues potentially in the low hundreds of billions of dollars from imposition of a wealth tax, and ongoing increase in state revenues potentially in the billions of dollars from imposition of the tax on certain people dying or leaving the state. This revenue would be allocated to accomplish various goals related to environmental protection. Potential annual net increase in personal income tax revenues in the tens of billions of dollars annually. The first $7.5 billion annually would be allocated to the state General Fund with additional revenue allocated for environmental protection. Unknown state and local revenue reductions – potentially in the tens of billions of dollars annually – due to changes in taxpayer behavior. (Initiative 08-0012.) (Full Text)

Proponent: Roy Benson

Declares a state holiday on Election Day - the Tuesday following the first Monday in November during even-numbered years. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: Increased state costs once every two years of up to $20 million. (Initiative 08-0013.) (Full Text)

The list below reflects those proposed measures that have been submitted to the Attorney General for preparation of the title and summary that will appear on the initiative petitions. This process takes approximately 60 days; however, if amendments are submitted by the proponent the time period is lengthened. When the official summary is complete, the Attorney General forwards it to the proponent and to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State then provides calendar deadlines to the proponent and to the county elections officials.