This November, most voters will have the opportunity to vote on state ballot measures. State ballot measures are important components of the voting process in which citizens are provided the opportunity to voice their input on various legislation topics, including education. Typically, ballot measures are referendums or ballot initiatives, allowing voters to propose new state-level legislation or uphold or repeal a law that passed the state legislature. Gathered using the Statewide Ballot Measures Database by the National Conference of State Legislatures, the following outline some of the education-related state ballot measures that will be determined by voters in November:
- Arizona: Allows undocumented Arizona high school graduates to receive in-state university and community college tuition.
- California: Requires funding for K-12 art and music education.
- Colorado: Reduces caps for income tax deductions and the income threshold to which they apply to create and fund the Healthy School Meals for All Program.
- Florida: Authorizes the state legislature to provide an additional homestead property tax exemption on $50,000 of assessed value on property owned by certain public service workers, which includes teachers.
- Idaho: An advisory question that gauges citizen support for the passage of House Bill 1, which allocates $410 million of the state’s sales tax to the public school income fund and in-demand careers fund, as well as makes changes to income and corporate tax rates.
- Massachusetts: Creates a 4% tax on incomes that exceed $1 million for education and transportation purposes, which includes K-12 schools, CTE and adult education.
- New Mexico: Has a variety of ballot measures related to education including:
- Issues over $215 million in bonds for public higher education institutions, special public schools and tribal schools.
- Issues over $19 million to bonds for public libraries.
- Dedicates funds devoted to early childhood programs from the Land Grant Permanent Fund.
- West Virginia: Requires the state’s board of education to submit any proposed rules to the legislature to approve, amend or reject.
The list above demonstrates the impact state ballot measures can have on education and CTE programs during the November 2022 election. ACTE will continue to monitor the 2022 elections and their implications on CTE and education as part of our coverage on the CTE Policy Watch Blog.
To check your voter registration, register to vote, or learn more about your state’s voting policies, visit Nonprofit Vote.
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