Gavin Newsom Vetoes Pension, Telework and Environmental Bills

Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed three bills over a single weekend in September 2026, rejecting legislation supported by public employee unions and environmental groups. The most prominent veto was Assembly Bill 1383, which would have lowered the retirement age for public safety workers from 57 to 55 and increased the earnings cap for pension benefits. Newsom rejected the measure due to excessive costs and a desire to avoid the financial instability that preceded the 2012 pension reforms, arguing that widening the benefit gap between safety and non-safety members would expose the retirement system to additional risk.

Newsom also vetoed Assembly Bill 1729, which would have required state agencies to provide justifications when denying telework requests. He stated that in-person work is more effective and that the bill would have limited departmental flexibility by making telework the default arrangement. Additionally, he rejected Senate Bill 954, which sought to reinstate certain California Environmental Quality Act regulations that had been streamlined in 2025.

While business groups and local governments praised the decisions, environmentalists and unions criticized the governor for ignoring their interests. Political analysts suggest these vetoes represent a strategic shift toward the political center to moderate Newsom's image ahead of a potential presidential campaign.