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California Governor Rejects Free Condoms in High Schools
Newsom vetoed free condoms in California high schools, citing budget risk, even though the program was estimated in the low millions a year.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed Senate Bill 541, which would have provided free condoms to public high school students statewide. He said he supports better adolescent sexual health, but called the bill too costly given a state budget deficit of over $30 billion.
The program was estimated to cost in the low millions of dollars each year. In his veto message, Newsom wrote that with “continuing economic risk and revenue uncertainty, it is important to remain disciplined when considering bills with significant fiscal implications.”
Budget cuts are driving more vetoes across California this year, and this one was cheap by state-budget standards — low millions against a $30 billion-plus deficit. The math is easy to argue either way: a small recurring public-health cost, or another line item the state says it can’t add right now.