2008 California Propositions 98 and 99

none February 2026 February 2026 California Propositions 98 and 99 were competing ballot propositions in the U.S. state of California to limit the use of eminent domain and possibly rent control. They were voted on June 3, 2008; proposition 98 failed, while proposition 99 passed. The measures The propositions were partly a reaction to the 2005 U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Kelo v. City of New London, which held that the power of eminent domain can sometimes be used to transfer property from one private owner to another. They addressed the issue differently, and also included other measures. California voters face dueling measures on home seizure by eminent domain Los Angeles Times April 20, 2008 https://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-props20apr20,1,6581178.story Proposition 98 would have prohibited "state and local governments from condemning or damaging private property for private uses", changed litigation rules to be more friendly to property owners, and required the government to allow the original owner to repurchase the property at the original price if it ended up being put to a different use than originally stated. In addition, the proposition would have prohibited rent control and similar measures. http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/ballot_sum/ballot_meas_sum98.shtml Voter Information Guide: Quick Reference Guide - Proposition 98 California Secretary of State 2008-03-10 2008-05-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20080606002804/http://voterguide.sos.ca.gov/ballot_sum/ballot_meas_sum98.shtml 2008-06-06 dead Proposition 99 more narrowly prohibited "state and local governments from using eminent domain to acquire an owner-occupied residence [if the owner has occupied the residence for at least one year], as defined, for conveyance to a private person or business entity", subject to some exceptions. It did not prohibit rent control nor the use of eminent domain for properties other than residences occupied by the owner for over a year. http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/ballot_sum/ballot_meas_sum99.shtml Voter Information Guide: Quick Reference Guide - Proposition 99 California Secretary of State 2008-03-10 2008-05-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20080606103659/http://www.voterguide.sos.ca.gov/ballot_sum/ballot_meas_sum99.shtml 2008-06-06 dead The nonpartisan California Legislative Analyst's Office (which prepares analyses for the official state voter guide) concluded, "Proposition 99 would not significantly change current government land acquisition practices."https://www.lao.ca.gov/handouts/localgov/2008/Prop_98_99_04_24_08.pdf Overview of Propositions 98 and 99 California Legislative Analyst's Office California Legislative Analyst's Office April 24, 2008 6 If both propositions had passed, but Proposition 99 received more votes, only it, and not Proposition 98, would become law. However, this ended up not to matter as only Proposition 99 passed. Support and opposition Proposition 98 was co-sponsored by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and was also supported by landlord groups. It was opposed by tenant groups and associations of cities and redevelopment agencies, who preferred Proposition 99. By April 2008, supporters of Proposition 98 had raised $3.5 million, and opponents $6.4 million, to conduct their campaigns. Results right|250px right|250px Proposition 98http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008_primary_june/sdp08SOV1.pdf Statement of Vote: June 3, 2008, Statewide Direct Primary Election 2008-07-16 2008-07-16 California Secretary of State https://web.archive.org/web/20080717004808/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/sov/2008_primary_june/sdp08SOV1.pdf 2008-07-17 dead 1675213 4352669 2677456 28.22 197558 Proposition 99 2678106 4322615 1644509 28.22 227612 See also California state elections, June 2008 References External links California Alliance to Protect Private Property Rights 98 and 99 Category:Amendments to the Constitution of California Category:Failed amendments to the Constitution of California Category:Eminent domain Category:Initiatives in the United States