California Decides
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California Decides | The Proposition Lab

Understand California. Understand the Choices Ahead. 

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The Proposition Lab from California Decides is Hoover Institution’s nonpartisan publication and platform designed to help Californians better understand the issues, tradeoffs, and decisions shaping the state’s future.

Rather than telling voters what to think, California Decides equips them with the facts, historical context, competing perspectives, and policy implications they need to make informed decisions. Through plain-language explainers, short videos, podcasts, webinars, proposition guides, data visualizations, and expert analysis, the initiative transforms complex public policy into accessible, engaging content for a broad audience.

Launching in advance of the 2026 election, California Decides will answer the questions Californians are already asking (from housing affordability and energy costs to education, public safety, state finances, and election administration) while also explaining how California government works and what the governor, Legislature, and ballot initiatives can and cannot change. More than an election resource, California Decides is intended to become Hoover’s permanent platform for California civic education: a trusted destination where voters, policymakers, journalists, educators, and community leaders can find clear, evidence-based explanations of the state’s most important challenges and the choices that will shape its future.

Proposition Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why do we have so many ballot initiatives in California?
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What Is A Recall And Why Does California Have So Many?
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How Elections Are Run
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How does redistricting work in California, and what did Prop 50 change?
Redistricting
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Who pays for California’s state budget, and what is it spent on?
State Budget
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What is Prop 13, and why does it still shape everything?
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Why can’t the Legislature just change the budget?
Budget
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Who is responsible for each issue in California?
Issues
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What is CEQA, and why does it come up in every building fight?
environment
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How does Medi-Cal work, and who runs it?
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How are California schools funded?
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Who regulates energy prices in California?
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