Proposition 4, titled Authorizing bonds for safe drinking water, wildlife prevention, and protecting communities and natural lands from climate risks, was a California ballot proposition and legislative statutes that passed by vote on in the 2024 general election on November 5, 2024.
The proposition "authorize[d] $10 billion in general obligation bonds for water, wildfire prevention, and protection of communities and lands."
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error Yes No UndecidedPublic Policy Institute of CaliforniaOctober 7–15, 20241,137 (LV)± 3.7%60%38%2%University of Southern California/CSU Long Beach/Cal Poly PomonaSeptember 12–25, 20241,685 (LV)± 2.4%60%24%16%Public Policy Institute of CaliforniaAugust 29 – September 9, 20241,071 (LV)± 3.7%65%33%2%
Aftermath Despite the pitch being for new expenditures to be funded by the proposition, over $275 million in Prop 4 funds have been used to backfill the state's general fund. California lawmakers have faced criticism for using a significant amount of Proposition 4 funds as pork, including $16 million for a conservation easement for a private ranch in Santa Barbara, $40 million to secure access to a private beach, and $1 million for an alternative meat research facility at UC Davis.
The 2025-2026 California Spending Plan sets forth the broad allocations of the proceeds of the bonds with $3.5 billion allocated for the first year implementation:
Safe Drinking Water, Drought, Flood and Water Resilience - $1.2 billion of $3.8 billion; Wildfire and Forest Resilience - $598 million of $1.5 billion; Coastal Resilience - $279 million of $1.2 billion; Biodiversity and Nature-Based Climate Solutions - $390 million of $1.2 billion; Clean Energy - $275 million of $850 million; Park Creation and Outdoor Access - $466 million of $700 million; Extreme Heat Mitigation - $110million of $450 million; and Climate Smart Agriculture- $153 million of $300 million
See also 2024 United States ballot measures List of California ballot propositions
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