• Newsom tells TMZ he has included menopause care funding in next year’s budget after vetoing AB 432 twice
• Berry accused governor of “devaluing” women and suggested he “should not be our next president”
• Governor’s office maintains vetoed bill would have “unintentionally raised health care costs” for families

SACRAMENTO, CA (TDR) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday defended his decision to veto A.B. 432, a bipartisan bill backed by Halle Berry that would increase menopause-related care and coverage within the state.

“We’re reconciling that. I’ve included it in the budget next year. She didn’t know that,” Newsom told a TMZ reporter at Newark International Airport in New Jersey.

Related Article: Halle Berry Torches Gavin Newsom’s Presidential Hopes Over Menopause Bill Veto

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This year marks the second time Newsom blocked the bipartisan bill from becoming law, which has warranted harsh criticism from Berry ahead of a potential presidential bid for the governor.

Berry’s Blistering Critique

The Oscar-winning actress did not hold back during her appearance Wednesday at The New York Times’s DealBook Summit, delivering remarks that drew audible gasps from the audience of business and political leaders.

“Back in my great state of California, my very own governor, Gavin Newsom, has vetoed our menopause bill, not one but two years in a row. But that’s OK, because he’s not going to be governor forever.”

Berry, who has become a prominent advocate for menopause care through her company Respin Health, escalated her criticism further by directly addressing Newsom’s widely anticipated 2028 presidential campaign.

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“And with the way he’s overlooked women — half the population — by devaluing us in midlife, he probably should not be our next president either,” Berry said. “At this stage in my life, I have zero [expletives] to give, and I am going to fight like hell because my longevity depends on it.”

Newsom’s Defense

The governor’s office has defended the vetoes, arguing that the legislation as written would have unintentionally raised health care costs for millions of working women and families already stretched thin.

In his October veto message, Newsom wrote that he “strongly supports” the goal of ensuring quality care and access to treatment for perimenopause and menopause symptoms. However, he cited concerns about undefined terms in the bill that raised significant cost and implementation issues.

A spokesperson for Newsom said the governor shares Berry’s goal of expanding access to menopause care and expressed confidence that both sides could work together this year to achieve that objective while protecting women from higher bills.

What the Bill Would Have Done

The Menopause Care Equity Act, formally known as AB 432, would have required health insurance policies covering outpatient prescription drugs to provide comprehensive coverage for evaluation and treatment options for perimenopause and menopause symptoms.

The legislation also would have directed the state’s medical board to create a menopause-specific curriculum and boosted continuing-education credits for physicians who complete menopause-related training. Bipartisan lawmakers passed the bill in the California state Legislature in both 2024 and 2025.

Berry had previously responded to Newsom’s October veto with an op-ed in Time magazine, calling the decision a “failure” of his “commitment to women.”

Presidential Implications

The public feud comes at a delicate time for Newsom, who confirmed in late October that he is considering a 2028 presidential run. The actress’s criticism at a high-profile summit attended by major donors and media figures puts an uncomfortable spotlight on the governor’s record with women voters heading into a potential campaign.

Illinois recently became the first state to mandate coverage for hormone replacement therapy, a development Berry celebrated during her DealBook appearance while contrasting it with California’s inaction under Newsom’s leadership.

Will Newsom’s budget proposal satisfy Berry and menopause care advocates, or has the political damage from consecutive vetoes already been done?

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