Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill for the second consecutive year that would have required high schools in California to provide free condoms to students, citing cost concerns despite substantial support in the Legislature.
The bill, backed by Newsom’s Democratic colleagues in the Legislature, faced opposition mainly from conservative and Christian groups.
Why he vetoed: “I vetoed a similar bill last year, conveying that the bill created an unfunded mandate that should be considered as part of the annual budget process,” Newsom wrote in his veto. “While the author successfully championed $5 million for a similarly aligned purpose in this year’s budget, one-time funding does not adequately address the fiscal concerns associated with this bill.”
- Newsom added, “It is important to remain disciplined when considering bills with significant fiscal implications that are not included in the budget, such as this measure.”
Driving the news: Lawmakers advocated for the measure due to a rise in sexually transmitted infections in California and across the nation, particularly affecting individuals under 25, people of color and gay or bisexual men.
- If passed, the bill would have mandated high schools to make condoms available in at least two locations on their premises without requiring students to go through staff to obtain them, starting in the 2025 school year.
- Additionally, the bill would have extended the provision of condoms to other public schools starting in the seventh grade as part of their public health programs.
- Stores would have been prohibited from denying condom sales based on customer age, aligning with efforts to improve sexual health access and education among younger populations.
Menjivar speaks out: Sen. Caroline Menjivar (D–Panorama City) – who authored the bill – went after Newsom in a statement after he announced his veto.
- “The Governor vetoes bills because they weren’t considered in the budget process and even when I did that, it still nuggets vetoed, causing a lot of confusion,” Menjivar said. “While I cannot speculate on an ulterior motive, let’s get real, it’s not the cost.”
