California Gov. Newsom vetoes bills on free condoms, caste discrimination, and insulin prices

California Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have provided free condoms to all public high school students, citing the cost of implementation in a state with a budget deficit of over $30 billion. The bill, known as Senate bill 541, aimed to make condoms available in grades 7-12 as part of educational or public health programs. Newsom argued that while programs increasing access to condoms are important for adolescent sexual health, the cumulative costs of multiple bills passed this year would add $19 billion to the state budget. In addition, Newsom signed a law requiring new school buses purchased or contracted by districts to be zero-emission by 2035 as part of California's plan to phase out fossil fuels.