California Legislators Revive Bill to Provide Free Condoms to Students After Newsom’s Veto

Legislation requiring California’s public schools to stock condoms has been revived after Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed the bill last fall. State Sen. Caroline Menjivar re-introduced the bill, now named Senate Bill 954, Jan 22. It would require all public schools to make internal and external condoms available to students in middle and high school for free. In a press release Jan. 22, Ms. Menjivar noted rising rates of sexually transmitted infections among youth—especially youth of color and LGBT youth. Gov. Newsom vetoed the bill in October saying it would cost several million dollars annually for the state and therefore would be too expensive, given California’s current estimated budget deficit for fiscal year 2024-25....