Initiative #1935, sponsored by the California Business Roundtable, could retroactively invalidate local revenues already approved by locally-elected boards and local voters. There is an urgent need today for special districts to support Assembly Constitutional Amendment 13 now before the State Senate to ensure Initiative #1935 and others like it play by the same rules they seeks to impose on others.
Join the growing list of support for ACA 13
The Latest News from the Capitol
Late Wednesday, September 6, the Protect and Retain the Majority Vote Act, Assembly Constitutional Amendment 13 (Ward), received the two-thirds approval necessary to pass the State Assembly and must now secure two-thirds support of the State Senate for final Legislative approval—Your State Senators need to hear from our local leaders today before it’s too late.
CSDA strongly supports ACA 13, along with Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, Cal Cities, the California State Association of Counties, and more. Thirty-three independent special districts have already responded to CSDA’s call to Action, but more help is needed to secure passage of this top priority before the State Legislature adjourns.
Take Action
CSDA is calling upon all special districts to submit an ACA 13 Letter of Support today and call your State Senator to express your strong support for ACA 13.
ACA 13 must pass the State Senate by September 14 and will be taken up in the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee Monday, September 11 at 10:00 AM in Room 2100 of the 1021 O Street Building in Sacramento. Special district officials are encouraged to testify in support in-person or through a Committee call-in line. Call-in information will be provided on the Committee’s Hearing Page as soon as it is available (callers should be familiar with the Legislature’s teleconference instructions).
Letters of support are requested ASAP for the hearing. Please be sure to CC advocacy@csda.net on your letter. Please utilize the State Legislature’s Advocacy Portal or committee email (selc@sen.ca.gov) to submit your letter. Additional guidelines and clarification for submitting position letters can be found under the Letter Policy tab.
Local Control and Scarce Resources for Essential Local Services are in Jeopardy
ACA 13 stands out as a top priority to protect the fiscal and operational stability of public agencies. For example, if passed into law, ACA 13 would require CSDA-opposed Initiative #1935 to pass by the same two-thirds threshold it looks to impose on future generations of voters.
Initiative #1935, would have severe impacts on the ability of special districts to serve their communities. Over 100 special districts have passed resolutions in opposition to this initiative eligible for the November 2024 ballot because it would retroactively invalidate the actions of local electorates and invite costly lawsuits taxpayers would be forced to defend.
Learn more about Initiative #1935 at csda.net/VoterLimitations.
Your Voice is Making an Impact and Special Districts are Making a Difference
Every vote counts on this two-thirds measure and every letter of support and call from special district local leaders will make a difference. The author of ACA 13, Assembly Member Chris Ward, cited the special districts and other local leaders calling for its important protections of local voters, local control, and local services in his closing remarks before the September 6 Assembly Floor vote - WATCH THE VIDEO from 9/6/23 Assembly Floor Session (from 17:17:21 to 17:18:12).
Additional Background
ACA 13 would retain the majority vote requirement for passage of state and local initiatives. ACA 13 will require proposed initiatives that seek to increase vote thresholds on future state and local measures to pass with that same proportional higher vote threshold. ACA 13 would also preserve the right of local agencies to place advisory questions on the ballot to ask voters their opinion on issues.
If ACA 13 is approved by the requisite margins in both houses of the California Legislature, California voters would be asked in March 2024 to decide whether an initiative constitutional amendment containing provisions that increase vote thresholds should be required to attain the same proportion of votes in favor of the amendment that the proposed increased vote thresholds would demand.
- i.e., if an initiative constitutional amendment includes a provision that would impose a supermajority (e.g., three-fifths, two-thirds, four-fifths, etc.) voter approval threshold, then that initiative would be required to gain the approval of the same super majority (three-fifths, two-thirds, four-fifths, etc.; whatever threshold the initiative proposes) of California voters in order to pass
- if the initiative constitutional amendment includes provisions that impose a supermajority vote threshold and fails to gain the corresponding supermajority of voters in support of the underlying amendment, the initiative constitutional amendment would not be considered approved, thereby failing in its entirety
Because ACA 13 protects the democratic process in local communities by ensuring that a simple majority of statewide voters cannot restrict the will of a supermajority of voters in a local community, CSDA adopted its support position and provided the author's office with a letter of support.
Learn more about ACA 13 at csda.net/ACA-13.
If you have questions or need support in reaching out to your State Senator, please email advocacy@csda.net.
#AdvocacyNews
#FeatureNews
#SpecialDistrictNews