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# Gavin Newsom is vetoing one of every five bills, here’s why
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/gavin-newsom-is-vetoing-1-of-every-5-bills-heres-why/
- Published: 2024-09-28T20:55:36.000Z
- Updated: 2024-12-04T15:25:22.000Z
- Author: Editor
- Tags: News, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2025-11-06 12:20

Heading into the final four days before his midnight Monday deadline, Gov. Gavin Newsom will need to decide whether to sign or veto 465 bills still on his desk.

So far, he’s blocked 102 of 526 measures he’s acted on since the Legislature adjourned Aug. 31, or nearly 20%. That compares to a 15% veto rate in2023, when he blocked [156 bills](https://calmatters.org/explainers/new-california-laws/?ref=smdp.com). He had a similar [veto percentage](https://www.gov.ca.gov/2022/10/02/bills-bills-bills/?ref=smdp.com) in 2022, including some [significant](https://calmatters.org/explainers/california-legislature-bills-passed-2022/?ref=smdp.com) bills. In 2021, he vetoed fewer [than 8%](https://calmatters.org/newsletters/whatmatters/2021/10/new-california-laws/?ref=smdp.com).

While the Legislature can override vetoes, it takes a two-thirds vote in both the Assembly and Senate and that hasn’t happened [since 1979](https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2021-10-15/california-politics-governor-all-powerful-veto-ca-politics?ref=smdp.com). Governors can also allow bills to become law without their signature, but that doesn’t occur [very often](https://californiaglobe.com/articles/historical-look-at-bills-that-became-law-without-the-governors-signature/?ref=smdp.com), either.

So in most cases, lawmakers try again the next session, often tailoring their proposals to avoid Newsom’s veto pen.

“In most instances, legislators try to work with the governor and the governor’s administration in trying to address the concerns that are in the veto message, as opposed to saying simply that their approach is the right one,” said veteran lobbyist Chris Micheli.

On some high-profile and contentious bills, whatever Newsom says publicly about why he issued a veto, there can be a healthy dose of politics involved — as well as the push and pull of various interest groups.

“Whether it’s an election year or it’s not an election year, political considerations will impact not just the legislation going through the legislative process, but also whether or not a bill results in a gubernatorial signature or veto,” Micheli said. “But that’s a small number by my estimate.”

A Newsom spokesperson said the veto messages speak for themselves.

Here are the main reasons Newsom gives for his vetoes. (When he gives multiple reasons, it’s counted in all categories.)

### It’s bad policy

Newsom cited policy problems as his reason for vetoing one third of the bills — the second largest category. These are bills that he didn’t agree with or had language that was too broad.

For example, Senate [Bill 804](https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/bills/ca%5F202320240sb804?slug=CA%5F202320240SB804&ref=smdp.com) would have let community service officers [testify](https://calmatters.org/explainers/new-california-laws-2024/?ref=smdp.com#0f79fed6-06a2-4ccb-a815-6af5c93cff97) at preliminary hearings. In the governor’s [veto message](https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SB-804-Veto-Message.pdf?ref=smdp.com), he wrote that the bill raises concerns about “the reliability of evidence presented at a critical stage of criminal proceedings.”

[SB 1170](https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/bills/ca%5F202320240sb1170?slug=CA%5F202320240SB1170&ref=smdp.com) would have allowed candidates to use campaign funds to address mental health-related issues that arise during a campaign, but [Newsom wrote](https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SB-1170-Veto-Message.pdf?ref=smdp.com) that it could allow for other changes to campaign fund use that go “beyond what a reasonable donor would expect.”

And [SB 1432](https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/bills/ca%5F202320240sb1432?ref=smdp.com) aimed to let hospitals seek five more years to meet seismic safety standards. “In the aftermath of an earthquake, not only would these hospitals be unable to provide emergency care to victims, but they would also require emergency response efforts to be diverted to rapidly evacuate and transfer patients to other facilities,” Newsom said in his [veto message](https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SB-1432-Veto-Message.pdf?ref=smdp.com).

### It’d strain the budget

For the third year in a row, the most common reason Newsom gave for vetoing a bill was budget concerns — about 40%.

Newsom and the Legislature had to make sweeping cuts to some programs and dip into the state’s reserves to close the $56 billion [budget hole](https://calmatters.org/politics/capitol/2024/06/california-budget-deal-4/?ref=smdp.com) over the next two years. The deficit also played a [central role](https://calmatters.org/politics/capitol/2024/05/california-legislature-bills-budget-deficit/?ref=smdp.com) in decisions during the session to shelve hundreds of bills. The state’s financial crunch accounted for 41% of vetos last year, according to Micheli.

“Every governor and his or her staff, they’re going to look at the policy implications. Second, the fiscal implications,” Micheli said. “A negative fiscal consideration this year, last year and the prior year has been an overriding factor in many instances.”

For example, the governor vetoed [AB 1840](https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/bills/ca%5F202320240ab1840?ref=smdp.com), which would have allowed undocumented applicants to apply for a homebuyer assistance program. In his [veto message](https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AB-1840-Veto-Message.pdf?ref=smdp.com), Newsom wrote that there is “finite funding” available and that this change would have to be considered in the state budget.

Another bill that Newsom squashed because of the budget was [AB 544](https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/bills/ca%5F202320240ab544?ref=smdp.com), which would have provided funding so three counties could test [in-person](https://calmatters.org/politics/elections/2024/09/california-voters-jails-barriers/?ref=smdp.com) voting in jails.

But even if an author attempts to address their bill in the budget, it may not be enough. State Sen. [Caroline Menjivar](https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/legislators/caroline-menjivar-165436?ref=smdp.com), a Van Nuys Democrat, secured $5 million for [SB 954](https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/bills/ca%5F202320240sb954?ref=smdp.com), which would have required public high schools to provide condoms to students.

Newsom vetoed the bill, [writing that](https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SB-954-Veto-Message.pdf?ref=smdp.com) “one-time funding does not adequately address the fiscal concerns associated with this bill.”

### It may not be legal

For a couple of bills so far, Newsom said that courts should decide on an issue before he gives his signature. His second veto of a bill relating to undocumented Californians, [SB 2586](https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/bills/ca%5F202320240ab2586?ref=smdp.com), would have let undocumented students work on campus. In his message, Newsom [wrote](https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AB-2586-Veto-Message.pdf?ref=smdp.com) that, “it is critical that the courts address the legality of such a policy and the novel legal theory behind this legislation before proceeding.”

### It’s up to local officials

Sometimes Newsom vetoes a bill because it’s an issue that could be solved at the local level. For example, [AB 1950](https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/bills/ca%5F202320240ab1950?ref=smdp.com) would have created a state task force to research reparations for people displaced in the Chavez Ravine area in Los Angeles. In his [veto message](https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AB-1950-Veto-Message.pdf?ref=smdp.com), Newsom wrote that it is “an issue best addressed by stakeholders closest to the Chavez Ravine community.”

### It’s not needed

Newsom vetoed another large percentage of bills because he sees them as unnecessary given the work the state is already doing on an issue.

[SB 936](https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/bills/ca%5F202320240sb936?ref=smdp.com) would have required Caltrans to conduct a road safety study and come up with an improvement plan. In Newsom’s message, [he wrote](https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SB-936-Veto-Message.pdf?ref=smdp.com) that Caltrans is already working on road safety, so the bill would be redundant.

Despite the governor’s explanation of Caltrans’ current efforts, bill author Sen. [Kelly Seyarto](https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/legislators/kelly-seyarto-165446?ref=smdp.com), a Republican from Murrieta, wrote in a press release that he is “deeply disappointed by the veto, as it sends a message that road safety isn’t being prioritized at a time when fatalities are on the rise.”

[AB 2903](https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/bills/ca%5F202320240ab2903?ref=smdp.com) would have required state homelessness programs to more closely track and report spending data. However, Newsom wrote in his [veto message](https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/AB-2903-Veto-Message.pdf?ref=smdp.com) that he’s already signed legislation that strengthens reporting requirements for California’s two largest programs.

That didn’t satisfy the bill author, Assemblymember [Josh Hoover](https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/legislators/josh-hoover-165420?ref=smdp.com), a Republican from Folsom. “Governor Newsom is doubling down on his failed response to homelessness,” Hoover [posted on X](https://x.com/joshua%5Fhoover/status/1839116164582223880?ref=smdp.com). “Our state has spent billions of taxpayer dollars in recent years only to see the homeless population increase statewide.”

### It’s too soon

Newsom dubbed another small portion of bills as “premature,” such as [SB 1220](https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/bills/ca%5F202320240sb1220?ref=smdp.com), which would have banned agencies from staffing call centers with AI or automated decision-making systems if it gets rid of a human job.

Last year, Newsom signed an executive order for the state to evaluate how to use AI in its workforce, so the bill would create guidelines before the ones from the order are announced, he wrote in his [veto message](https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SB-1220-Veto-Message.pdf?ref=smdp.com).

[SB 1050](https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/bills/ca%5F202320240sb1050?slug=CA%5F202320240SB1050&ref=smdp.com) would have allowed Californians who had land taken from them or their families for racially motivated reasons to apply for compensation. But implementing the bill is “impossible,” [according](https://www.gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SB-1050-Veto-Message.pdf?ref=smdp.com) to Newsom, because there’s no agency to do so.

*Jenna Peterson, CalMatters*