5 CA Bills Just Vetoed: Student Transit, Crypto Regulations And More

CALIFORNIA — Gov. Gavin Newsom signed off on hundreds of laws this month, green-lighting bomb-shell legislation centering around climate change, the fast-food industry and even legalizing human compositing.

The Democratic governor also rejected a number of bills that would have had a major impact on California's students as well as regulations for light pollution and air quality.

Many of the bills were not signed simply because they would have cost the state far too much — despite the state's record-breaking budget and spending plan.

“With our state facing lower-than-expected revenues over the first few months of this fiscal year, it is important to remain disciplined when it comes to spending, particularly spending that is ongoing,” Newsom said in his veto message of Senate Bill 70, which would have made kindergarten mandatory.

Newsom has received both praise and vitriol for recent signings. Assembly Bill 351 — which adds human composting as a burial method in California — drew criticism from some groups.

The California Catholic Conference said the process of composting "reduces the human body to simply a disposable commodity." The Catholic group argues that this method was first developed for livestock, not humans.

Alternatively, advocates argued that the burial method will help combat harmful emissions released into the atmosphere.

READ MORE: Human Composting, Legal Pot Use: 2 New CA Laws To Know

Newsom — likely in for a landslide reelection in November — has been facing rumors of a presidential run. He has insisted he will not run for president in 2024, citing the recall election.

"I was almost recalled last year. They went after me hard. That's sobering, and that wakes you up. How vulnerable, how fast this is, how people come and go, and you know, people cut you off," Newsom said on Saturday, according to Insider.

Newsom will continue to review dozens more bills throughout the week.

Here are the bills the governor has vetoed so far:

1. Free Transportation For All Students

Assembly Bill 1919 would have tasked the state with creating a five-year program to allow all of California's students — K-12 to college pupils — to ride public transit for free.

But the bill had a hefty $115 million annual price tag, which Newsom said would not be feasible for the Golden State.

2. Mandatory Kindergarten

Senate Bill 70 would have required all Golden State children to complete a year of kindergarten before starting first grade. It would have began I the 2024-25 school year.

The bill — supported by dozens of school districts and education advocates — aimed to close the gap in academic opportunity for low-income students and students of color.

But it would have come with a $268 million cost, which Newsom said "is not currently accounted for in the state's fiscal plan."

Though the proposal was rejected due to its cost, Newsom lauded the effort: "The learning that happens during the early years of a child's life is critica l to their long-term success and happiness."

3. Air Quality In California's San Joaquin Valley

Earlier this year, the EPA said the San Joaquin Valley was unable to meet a 1997 rule for an essential National Air Quality Standard by January 2021.

The region has some of the worst air quality in the U.S. Despite this, the governor vetoed Assembly Bill 2550, which would have required the California Air Resources Board to assert control over the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.

Newsom said the bill was "unnecessary" in his veto statement.

"My administration is committed to ensuring that the San Joaquin Valley is on a path to attainment of the NAAQS. Statute already allows CARB to reject a local air district's State Implementation Plan element if CARB finds, after a public hearing, that it does not meet the requirements of the Clean Air Act, including if the plan will not provide attainment by the deadline," he said.

4. Preventing Light Pollution

Assembly Bill 2382 would have limited lighting pollution coming from state buildings. Newsom wrote that the proposal was an "overly broad mandate," and once again cited costs.

“This bill would have protected our night skies and migratory species, while reducing wasteful and unnecessary electricity consumption,” said author Assemblyman Alex Lee (D-San Jose). He said the veto was "extremely disappointing."

Newsom said that the costs were "unfunded and potentially significant" in his veto message.

5. Establishing Licensing And Regulations For Crypto Assets

Assembly Bill 2269, would have established a licensing and regulatory framework for digital financial assets or cryptocurrencies. The framework would have been facilitated by the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.

The bill was born out of an executive order issued in May, which made California the first state to establish regulations for those who use digital asset financial services and products.

Again, the governor cited the bill's hefty cost in his veto message.

“Such a significant commitment of general fund resources should be considered and accounted for in the annual budget process,” he wrote, adding, "I am committed to working collaboratively with the Legislature to achieve the appropriate regulatory clarity once federal regulations come into sharper focus for digital financial assets, while ensuring California remains a competitive place for companies to invest and innovate."