Here’s what Newsom vetoed

In Tuesday’s newsletter, I mentioned some of the new laws California will enact. Now let’s dig into what didn’t make it past the governor’s desk.

At the end of this year’s legislative session, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed 123 out of the 917 total bills lawmakers sent to him — a slightly lower veto rate of 13.4% compared to last year’s 15.7%.

One of the bills he spiked Monday would have raised the cap car dealers can charge to process Department of Motor Vehicles’ and other paperwork from $85 to $260, writes CalMatters’ Ryan Sabalow.

In his veto message, the governor said that consumers could be charged “hundreds more for only minutes of data entry” even though there are no new state requirements and DMV processes are getting more streamlined.

Read more here.

Newsom also rejected a handful of bills intended to expand health care coverage, such as ones that would have required health insurers to cover a year’s worth of prescription hormone therapy; treatment for menopause; and behavioral health visits for wildfire victims. In his veto messages, he repeatedly said California lawmakers should avoid enacting policies that would drive up health care costs “at a time when individuals are facing double-digit rate increases in their health care premiums” nationwide.

Other notable bills Newsom vetoed:

• ‘Forever chemicals’ and microplastics: The governor rejected a bill that would have banned the sale of cleaning products, dental floss, cookware and other items that contain PFAS substances, which can be toxic. He also vetoed a bill that would have banned cosmetics that include plastic glitter.

• Immigration raids and schools: Citing “substantial cost pressures,” Newsom vetoed a bill that would enable schools to avoid defunding due to drops in attendance from “immigration enforcement activity.” The bill was introduced in response to January’s federal immigration raids in Kern County.

• Honey bees: Newsom shot down a bill that would have established a health program for struggling managed honey bees arguing that the issue should have been considered in the state’s annual budget process instead.

CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.