I decided to start a separate thread to bring attention to this. All the attention has been going to Prop 40, but prop 40 is a one time tax. Prop 3 keeps tax level where they've been since 2012, on individuals making over 360k and couples making over 721k. This tax brings in $5 billion to $15 billion a year and nearly all of the money is earmarked for education. The importance of this dwarfs prop 40... please do not sleep on it. Prop 40 almost feels like a distraction at this point.

How dumb

I was just googling booster seats for my 9yo and debating whether she still needs one when I discovered that the law is changing on 1/1/27. Currently, only children who are 8 and under AND haven’t reached 4’9 are legally required to use a booster. Starting in the new year, AB 435 will require those under the age of 16 but older than 8 to pass the 5-Step Seatbelt Fit Test no matter their height or weight. Those who cannot pass are required to use a booster seat. No changes have been made regarding sitting in the front seat. That remains 13 and up. I had no idea about any of this, despite having kids in the exact age range impacted. This seems like the kind of thing the public should be informed about and given time to prepare for. Boosters are a lot cheaper than car seats, but an unexpected $50-$100 expense right around the holidays will be painful for some families. Have I been living under a rock? Are other parents aware?

The 5-Step Seatbelt Fit Test:
The child sits all the way back against the auto seat — not perched on the edge or slouching.
The child’s knees bend comfortably over the edge of the seat — their legs aren’t dangling or sticking straight out.
The shoulder belt crosses the center of the child’s chest and shoulder — not riding up on the neck or tucked behind the back.
The lap belt lies as low as possible across the thighs — not cutting across the stomach.
The child can stay seated this way for the entire trip — not sliding down or repositioning mid-ride.