CaliforniaVetoed bill proposed menopause-related discrimination protections and poster update
Vetoed by the Governor, the bill proposed adding menopause-related conditions to discrimination protections at work and in public businesses, and updating a state workplace poster.
What it does
The vetoed bill would add perimenopause, menopause, postmenopause, and related medical conditions to protections against discrimination at work and in businesses open to the public.
The Civil Rights Department would have to update its workplace discrimination poster to explain rights related to perimenopause, menopause, postmenopause, and related medical conditions.
Argument forPeople with menopause-related conditions could have clearer protection from discrimination at work and when using businesses open to the public.
Argument againstEmployers and businesses could face uncertainty about which menopause-related conditions count under the expanded definition and how to explain those protections.
More detail
The bill would include perimenopause, menopause, postmenopause, and related medical conditions in the definition of sex. The employment law covers workers and employers within its reach, and the Unruh Act covers people using California businesses. The definition would apply under California's Fair Employment and Housing Act and the Unruh Civil Rights Act. The bill was vetoed on September 30, 2026, and did not take effect.
The Civil Rights Department would have to update its workplace discrimination poster to explain rights and protections related to these conditions. The department's poster informs employers and the public about workplace discrimination rights. The department would have to update the poster on or before July 1, 2027, if the bill had taken effect.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 30Vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom.Latest
- Sep 8Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 28Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 65. Noes 9. Page 6810.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 1940 Calderon Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Aug 27In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB1940 Calderon et al. By Gonzalez. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 27Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 1.).Passed Senate
- Aug 24Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 21Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.Major
- Aug 17Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 13Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 13From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 1.) (August 13).Major
- Aug 3In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Vote recorded Placed on suspense file. Result: pass.Upper
- Jul 1From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 4. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 23From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.Major
- Jun 17From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L., P.E. & R. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.Minor
- Jun 16
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Labor, Public Employment and Retirement ]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 4From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.Major
- Jun 3Referred to Coms. on JUD. and L., P.E. & R.Minor
- May 27In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- Vote recorded AB 1940 Calderon Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 26Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 61. Noes 9. Page 5367.)Passed Assembly
- May 19Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- May 18Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.Major
- May 14From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 3.) (May 14).Major
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.Minor
- Apr 27Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 23Read second time and amended.Major
- Apr 22From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 3.) (April 21).Major
- Apr 21
- Vote recorded Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 13In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
- Mar 19From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (March 18). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Mar 19Coauthors revised.
- Mar 18
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Judiciary]. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 2Referred to Coms. on L. & E. and JUD.Minor
- Feb 14From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.
- Feb 13Read first time. To print.Introduced
Civil Rights & Voting