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LA Ballot Measures · June 2, 2026

What each measure does, the effects, and who's funding each side

Four measures on your LA ballot.

Two LA City measures (CB, TC, TT) and one LA County measure (ER) appear on the June 2 primary ballot. Unlike candidate races, these don't fit a quiz format — you need to understand what each measure actually does and what cascades from a Yes or No vote.

How to read these explainers: Each measure shows what it does, the first-order effect (what happens immediately if it passes), the second/third-order effects (what cascades), who's funding each side, and the actual choice you're making. No recommendations — your call.
↓ Prop CB (City) ↓ Prop TC (City) ↓ Prop TT (City) ↓ Measure ER (County)
LA City

Proposition CB

Tax on unlicensed cannabis businesses · Simple majority to pass · No expiration
In one sentence: Apply LA's existing cannabis business taxes (10% on sales, 5% on medical, 2% on cultivation, 1% on testing/transport) to unlicensed cannabis shops, not just licensed ones.

If it passes

First-order: Unlicensed cannabis shops legally owe the same taxes as licensed ones. Estimated $30-35M/year in new city revenue, earmarked for street/sidewalk repair, 911 emergency response, and fire protection.

Second-order: Tax-rate disadvantage that currently makes unlicensed shops cheaper than licensed shops disappears. Licensed retailers (who currently pay heavy fees) get a more level playing field. Black-market price advantage shrinks.

Third-order: Either (a) unlicensed shops shut down because the math no longer works, or (b) they keep operating but now have a tax obligation the city can use to seize assets, levy penalties, and force closures. Both outcomes depend on whether the city actually allocates resources to enforcement — which is the open question.

If it fails

  • Status quo. Unlicensed shops continue operating with a price advantage over licensed retailers.
  • City forgoes ~$30-35M/year of potential revenue.
  • Pressure on city council to find a different enforcement mechanism against illegal cannabis sales.
Supporters argue
  • Levels the playing field for licensed retailers paying heavy taxes and compliance costs.
  • Generates real revenue for street repair, 911, fire protection.
  • Removes the price advantage of the black market.
  • Supported by medical professionals, labor unions, and community groups.
Opponents argue
  • Taxing illegal businesses could be read as legitimizing them.
  • Enforcement mechanism is unclear — unlicensed shops are often cash-based and evasive.
  • City may face litigation over its authority to collect from operations that are themselves illegal.
  • Hiring auditors and chasing collections could cost more than the revenue raised.

The actual choice

Do you trust the city to enforce a new tax against operators who are already breaking other laws? Yes vote = bet on enforcement working. No vote = bet that enforcement won't materialize and the measure becomes a paper rule that legitimizes illegal shops.

Sources: NBC LA · LA City Voter Info Pamphlet, p. 6

LA City

Proposition TC

LA City ballot measure
Limited public coverage: Prop TC received less press attention than CB and ER. DecideCA could not independently summarize the measure's effects to the standard required for the other entries on this page. Rather than fabricate content, this entry directs you to the official source.

Where to get the real text

DecideCA will update this entry with a full explainer once authoritative summary coverage is available. The November runoff (if applicable) will get full treatment.

LA City

Proposition TT

LA City ballot measure
Limited public coverage: Like Prop TC, Prop TT received less press attention than the high-profile measures. To avoid speculating about its effects, DecideCA directs you to the official source.

Where to get the real text

DecideCA will update this entry with a full explainer once authoritative summary coverage is available.

LA County

Measure ER

Essential Services Restoration Act · Sales tax · 5-year temporary · Simple majority to pass · Expires October 2031
In one sentence: Add a half-cent per dollar (~5¢ on every $10) to LA County sales tax for five years (Oct 2026 – Oct 2031). Raises ~$1B/year. Money goes to backfill federal Medi-Cal cuts and public health services. Groceries, prescription drugs, and medical equipment are exempt.

If it passes

First-order: LA County sales tax goes up by 0.5%. About $1B/year flows to the LA County Department of Public Health and community clinics. Helps cover the ~700,000 LA County residents losing Medi-Cal coverage under the federal "One Big Beautiful Bill" Act.

Second-order: Some of the seven public health clinics that closed earlier in 2026 due to a $50M+ federal funding loss could reopen or be sustained. Emergency rooms see fewer uninsured patients showing up with advanced illnesses (because primary-care access continues). LA County's sales tax becomes the highest in the nation among major metro areas.

Third-order: If federal cuts deepen or last past 2031, county will have to either renew the tax (requiring another voter approval) or accept healthcare access cuts. Tax-base businesses argue affordability cascades affect consumer spending and job decisions; supporters argue ER avoidance costs make this cheaper than the alternative.

If it fails

  • The 700,000 residents losing Medi-Cal have fewer fallback options at county clinics; some likely default to emergency rooms (which is more expensive per visit and per outcome).
  • More public health clinic closures likely in 2026-2027.
  • County must find ~$1B/year somewhere else (cuts to other services, reserves drawdown, or seek state backfill).
  • LA County's sales tax stays at current level, preserving consumer purchasing power.
Supporters
  • Community Clinic Association of LA County
  • Venice Family Clinic
  • MLK Community Healthcare
  • LA County Supervisor Holly Mitchell
  • Major LA County Democratic officials
Opponents
  • Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association ("unreasonable and unfairly harsh")
  • LA County Supervisor Kathryn Barger ("Stretched thin... less affordable for families")
  • Anti-tax conservative organizations
  • Some small business associations citing competitiveness vs. neighboring counties

The actual choice

Do you accept higher sales tax (the most regressive form of taxation) to preserve county health-care access for the most vulnerable residents during a moment of federal cuts? Yes vote = bet that healthcare access matters more than the regressive tax cost. No vote = bet that LA County will find another funding source, or accept service reductions.

Sources: NBC LA · LA County Department of Public Health funding statements