Voters approved state and local ballot initiatives in this year’s election that will put billions of dollars toward some projects, but some they rejected could cause hurdles for owners of other planned projects.

The largest spending measures up for vote were California’s Proposition 2 and Proposition 4. Prop 2 authorizes $10 billion in bonds for construction and modernization of public education facilities. With 53% of votes counted, the measure was ahead with 57% of the vote. Most of the money, $8.5 billion, would be used for public schools, career technical education programs and charter schools to fund renovations and new construction. The other $1.5 billion would go toward community college facilities.

Prop 4, which was looking to pass with 58% of votes tallied so far in support, would authorize another $10 billion in bonds. The largest piece, $3.8 billion, would go toward water supply and flood protection projects. Another $1.5 billion would go toward forest health and wildfire prevention, and $1.2 billion would be set for habitat protection projects and coastal restoration work.

“Both bond measures will provide needed capital construction funding,” says Chris O’Connor, vice president of engagement and legislative affairs with the Associated General Contractors of California.

However, Proposition 5, which would have lowered the approval requirement for local infrastructure bonds from two-thirds to 55%, was looking as though it would fail to pass by ENR press time. It had 56% of votes counted so far against it.

Question 3 authorizes $120 million in bonds to increase housing availability. It garnered 66% of the vote. Most of the funds are slated for low- and moderate-income housing development. The win “clearly demonstrates that housing is a top priority for voters,” said Melina Lodge, executive director of the Housing Network of Rhode Island and Homes RI.
“These resources are crucial for building and preserving the affordable homes all Rhode Island communities urgently need.”

Question 4, which passed with 67% of the vote, authorizes $53 million in bonds for environmental infrastructure, recreation and preservation projects.

Pipelines and Public Infrastructure Districts

South Dakota voters shot down Measure 21 with 60% of voters against it. The rejection repeals state Senate Bill 201, which provides requirements for regulating carbon dioxide pipelines and would have allowed counties to enact a surcharge of $1 per linear foot. Opponents of the measure say it would have moved local regulatory control to the state Public Utilities Commission and that it did not address eminent domain, a key concern.

Despite the measure’s failure, Summit Carbon Solutions is moving forward with its proposal for a carbon dioxide pipeline in five states, including South Dakota, the company tells ENR. Preliminary plans show the pipeline would connect to seven ethanol plants in South Dakota and about 459 miles of the planned 2,000-mile route would cross through the state.

Summit plans to apply for a permit in South Dakota on Nov. 19, a company representative says.

“Projects like ours have successfully navigated South Dakota’s existing regulatory landscape in the past,” the company said in a statement. “We will continue to operate within the current framework, knowing that the future of ethanol and agriculture is vital to our shared success.”

Voters also rejected Oklahoma’s Question 833, which would have allowed municipalities to create public infrastructure districts for issuing bonds to pay for public improvements. While proponents said the initiative would have helped build public housing, opponents, who got 62% of voters to agree, said it would enable developers to pass taxes onto future property owners.

Washington State Push Against Gas Bans

With just 62% of votes counted, Washington state’s Initiative 2066 was narrowly trending toward passing, with 51% supporting.

If it does pass, the initiative requires utility companies and municipalities to provide natural gas, and prevents the state from discouraging or disincentivizing the use of natural gas, despite a building code update implemented earlier this year that seeks to limit the gas use in most new or renovated buildings.

The initiative was supported by construction industry groups including the Associated General Contractors of Washington, Associated Builders and Contractors Inland Pacific and Washington Aggregates & Concrete Association, as well as other business groups, which have said it would add costs for developers and property owners.

Meanwhile, Washington voters appeared to have rejected another measure, Initiative 2117, which would have prohibited state agencies from imposing carbon tax credit trading programs and repealed sections of the 2021 Washington Climate Commitment Act. About 62% of votes tallied so far were against the measure, which had been supported by AGC of Washington and other business groups, but opposed by a coalition of advocacy groups, unions and others. The CCA requires the sources of greenhouse gas emissions buy allowances, and then makes the money available for public projects.

“Right now, we’re 20,000 miles behind on paving roads and we have 150 bridges that need to be fixed,” said Billy Wallace, political and legislative director with the Washington and Northern Idaho District Council of Laborers, in a statement. “Today’s vote means we can get moving to deliver on these critical projects.”

Minimum Wage and Sick Time

Voters in three states approved ballot measures increasing pay or other benefits for workers. Alaska’s Ballot Measure 1, which had 57% of the vote with 76% of votes counted, increases the state minimum wage to $15 by 2027 and has it mirror inflation after that. It also requires sick leave for many employees, if the employer is large enough.

Missouri’s Proposition A, which passed with support from 58% of voters, increases the state minimum wage to $15 by 2026 and requires employers to provide one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, except for certain government and education employers.

Nebraska’s Paid Sick Leave Initiative passed with 74% of voters approving. It requires employers to offer seven days of earned paid sick leave, or five days if they have fewer than 20 employees.