Gavin Newsom vetoes bill that would have protected trans care providers from charges in other states

California Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed legislation passed to protect providers of gender-affirming care from charges in other states.This past weekend, the Democrat nixed Assembly Bill 2164, which would prevent the governor from honoring an extradition request for anyone who comes to California to receive an abortion or undergo gender-affirming care, citing concerns it would restrict his office’s executive authority.“This would prohibit future governors from recognizing a request for extradition of a person subject to criminal liability based on allegations that the person engaged in specified health care activities,” Newsom wrote in a veto message published on Sunday.Progressive groups voiced disappointment about the veto of AB 2164.

The California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus had made the bill a priority this year, saying it was important to prohibit “future Governors from recognizing a request for extradition of a person providing or aiding legally protected reproductive health care services or gender-affirming health care services in California.”Related: Has Gavin Newsom really signed the most pro-trans bills of any governor?Newsom said previous laws he implemented already provide protections for LGBTQ+ families and medical professionals. Last year, he signed legislation strengthening California’s confidentiality laws, expanding a shield law and requiring law enforcement to obtain warrants to access the California healthcare database and punishing unauthorized access as a misdemeanor.But he said prior laws still rightfully leave in the realm of the executive many matters of enforcement.

First reported by Advocate.com.