Newsom reverses course on California teacher paid leave after years of vetoes
After years of vetoes and political fights, Gov. Gavin Newsom is now backing taxpayer-funded paid pregnancy leave for California teachers – just as he prepares to leave office and potentially launch a national campaign
May 21, 2026 / 2:25 PM EDT / CBS News California
The proposal, included in Newsom's May budget revision, would provide up to 14 weeks of paid pregnancy disability leave for TK-12 and community college employees beginning in the 2026-27 fiscal year.
The move marks a major political reversal for Newsom, who repeatedly rejected or opposed similar efforts during nearly his entire time in office.
CBS News California Investigates has been reporting on the issue since 2019 , when lawmakers first raised concerns that teachers were excluded from California's paid leave system despite many private-sector workers receiving benefits through the state disability insurance program.
In a 2019 interview with CBS News California, Newsom defended the lack of paid leave protections for teachers and pointed to collective bargaining and budget constraints. When asked why teachers could not opt into disability insurance, Newsom said: "Our task force – this is what we're exploring."