California approves 14‑week paid pregnancy leave for teachers and college staff

Governor Gavin Newsom backed a provision in California’s new budget that grants public‑school and community‑college employees up to 14 weeks of paid pregnancy leave. The change reverses Newsom’s 2019 veto of a similar bill and expands a benefit that previously covered only a small share of the state’s roughly 300,000 teachers, who often had to use sick days or face pay cuts when taking leave. The legislation is presented as a tool to improve educator recruitment and retention and has drawn bipartisan support, with commentary noting its appeal to voters ahead of Newsom’s potential 2028 presidential run. State Department of Finance spokeswoman H. D. Palmer said the benefit reflects the administration’s priority on the education workforce. Analysts also linked the move to broader national trends, including paid‑leave expansions in both conservative‑ and blue‑state legislatures after the 2022 Dobbs decision. Advocates such as Vicki Shabo of New America and Elizabeth Gedmark of A Better Balance praised the policy, saying it signals support for families and may help address teacher shortages.