Several Statewide Ballot Initiatives Approved for California's November 2026 Election

加州 2026 年 11 月大選多項全州投票倡議獲通過

Jun 18, 2026, 17:25

Introduction

The California Secretary of State has confirmed that three different ballot initiatives have collected enough signatures to appear on the general election ballot in November 2026.

加州州務卿已確認有三項不同的投票倡議已收集到足夠簽名，將出現在 2026 年 11 月的大選選票中。

Main Body

The first proposal, known as the California Billionaire Tax Act, suggests a one-time 5% tax on residents and trusts with a net worth over $1.1 billion. This tax would apply to anyone living in the state as of January 1, 2026. According to the plan, 90% of the money collected would go to healthcare, while the remaining 10% would be split between education and food assistance. This measure has caused significant disagreement; for example, Representative Ro Khanna supports it to reduce income inequality. However, Governor Gavin Newsom and former Health Secretary Xavier Becerra oppose it, arguing that it might cause wealthy people to leave the state. Furthermore, a group called 'Building a Better California' has raised $129 million from wealthy donors to support rules that would stop this kind of retroactive tax.

第一個提案稱為《加州億萬富翁稅法》，建議對淨資產超過 11 億美元的居民和信託徵收一次性 5% 的稅。這項稅將適用於截至 2026 年 1 月 1 日居住在該州的所有人。根據計劃，90% 的徵收金額將用於醫療保健，其餘 10% 將分攤給教育和食物援助。這項措施引起了顯著的分歧；例如，眾議員 Ro Khanna 支持此舉以減少收入不平等。然而，州長 Gavin Newsom 和前衛生部長 Xavier Becerra 則持反對意見，認為這可能會導致富人離開該州。此外，一個名為「建設更好的加州」的團體已從富裕捐贈者處籌集 1.29 億美元，以支持防止此類追溯稅的規定。

At the same time, voters will decide on two measures regarding corporate laws. One initiative, supported by the Consumer Attorneys of California, wants to classify ride-sharing companies as 'common carriers.' This change would make these companies more responsible for sexual misconduct by drivers and require stricter background checks. In contrast, Uber has proposed a counter-measure to limit the amount of money paid out in car accident lawsuits and cap lawyer fees at 25%. Additionally, the 'Building an Affordable California Act,' supported by the California Chamber of Commerce, aims to change environmental laws. This act would speed up the approval of housing and energy projects by setting strict deadlines for environmental reviews and limiting legal challenges.

與此同時，選民將決定兩項關於公司法的措施。其中一項由加州消費者律師協會支持的倡議，希望將共乘車公司歸類為「公共承運人」。這項變更將使這些公司對司機的性騷擾行為承擔更多責任，並要求更嚴格的背景調查。相比之下，Uber 提出了一項反制措施，以限制車禍訴訟的賠償金額，並將律師費上限設定為 25%。此外，由加州商會支持的《建設可負擔加州法案》旨在修改環境法。該法案將透過為環境審查設定嚴格期限並限制法律挑戰，以加快住房和能源項目的審批速度。

Conclusion

Currently, there is a period of intense negotiation and spending as different groups try to influence the final ballot before the June 25 deadline.

目前正處於激烈的協商與支出階段，各個團體在 6 月 25 日截止日期前嘗試影響最終的選票。

Vocabulary Learning

⚡ The 'Contrast Engine': Moving Beyond "But"

To move from A2 to B2, you must stop using the word "but" for every disagreement. B2 speakers use "Contrast Connectors" to show a sophisticated relationship between two opposing ideas.

🔍 Observation from the Text

Look at how the article connects opposing political views. It doesn't just say "Person A likes it but Person B doesn't." Instead, it uses:

"However..." $\rightarrow$ $\to$ Used to start a new sentence that contradicts the previous one.
- Example: "Representative Ro Khanna supports it... However, Governor Gavin Newsom... oppose it."
"In contrast..." $\rightarrow$ $\to$ Used to show a direct comparison between two different plans or groups.
- Example: "...make these companies more responsible... In contrast, Uber has proposed a counter-measure."

🛠️ The B2 Upgrade Path

If you want to sound more professional, swap your simple connectors for these structural shifts:

A2 Level (Simple)	B2 Level (Sophisticated)	Why it's better
I like coffee, but she likes tea.	I like coffee; in contrast, she prefers tea.	It highlights the difference specifically.
It is raining, but I will go out.	It is raining. However, I will go out.	It creates a strong, formal pause.

💡 Pro Tip: The "Furthermore" Bridge

Notice that the text uses "Furthermore" to add more information to an argument. An A2 student says "and also," but a B2 student uses "Furthermore" to build a stronger case.

Try this logic: Argument A $\rightarrow$ Furthermore (More Evidence) $\rightarrow$ However (The Opposing View).

Vocabulary Learning

initiative (n.)

A proposed law or a plan that is presented to the public for a vote.

Example:The citizens voted on a new ballot initiative to improve public transportation.

net worth (n.)

The total value of a person's assets minus their total liabilities.

Example:The billionaire's net worth increased significantly after the stock market rose.

inequality (n.)

An unfair situation in which some people have more money, opportunities, or rights than others.

Example:The government is implementing new policies to reduce income inequality in the region.

retroactive (adj.)

Taking effect from a date in the past.

Example:The company granted a retroactive pay raise that covered the last six months of work.

misconduct (n.)

Unacceptable or improper behavior, especially by a professional person.

Example:The employee was fired immediately following allegations of professional misconduct.

counter-measure (n.)

An action taken to counteract or offset a previous action or a potential threat.

Example:The company introduced a counter-measure to prevent the competitor from dominating the market.

negotiation (n.)

Formal discussion between people who are trying to reach an agreement.

Example:After weeks of intense negotiation, the two countries finally signed a peace treaty.

Practice B2 words in a crossword→