Newsom Backs 14-Week Paid Pregnancy Leave For California Teachers
Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed up to 14 weeks of paid pregnancy disability leave for California TK-12 and community college employees in his May 2026 budget revision.[1]
The benefit would start in the 2026-27 fiscal year and is being advanced through Assembly Bill 65, which covers pregnancy, miscarriage and termination of pregnancy.[1] State finance officials told CBS the estimated ongoing cost is about $220 million per year, and funding would come from discretionary education dollars tied to cost-of-living increases.[1] AB 65 currently lacks a clear annual cap on the number of claims per person.[1]
Newsom vetoed a similar bill, AB 500, in 2019 and declined to support AB 2901 in 2024, making this a notable policy reversal.[1]
Show source details & analysis (1 source)
📌 Key Facts
- Newsom's May 2026 budget revision proposes up to 14 weeks of paid pregnancy disability leave for TK-12 and community college employees beginning in the 2026-27 fiscal year.
- State finance officials told CBS the estimated ongoing cost is about $220 million per year, covered within discretionary education funding tied to cost-of-living increases.
- The benefit is being advanced through AB 65, which covers pregnancy, miscarriage and termination of pregnancy and currently lacks a clear annual cap on the number of claims per person.
- Newsom previously vetoed AB 500 in 2019 and declined to support AB 2901 in 2024, making this a significant policy reversal on teacher paid leave.
📰 Source Timeline (1)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time