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Governor Newsom Signs AB 144
What it Means and What is Next 

Governor Newsom signed AB 144 moments ago, despite thousands of Californians calling and emailing to voice their opposition. AVFCA wants to sincerely THANK YOU — your voices were heard, and it is likely because of the sheer volume of outreach that the Governor rushed to sign this bill so quickly. While this is a disappointing outcome, it demonstrates the strength of our community and opens the door for future conversations with legislators about why this law is problematic. It will also likely lead to legal challenges in the courts.

You can read the Governor’s official press release here (note: we do not endorse his framing):

👉 https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/09/17/following-trumps-politicization-of-cdc-west-coast-states-issue-unified-vaccine-recommendations-california-breaks-from-future-federal-guidance-with-new-law/

Background: AB 144 was gutted and amended in the final two days of session — with no committee hearings, no public input, and no stakeholder engagement. This 66-page budget trailer bill was pushed through without transparency, and now signed into law, it raises serious concerns:

* Centralization of power: Hands vaccine recommendations and rulemaking solely to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), eliminating oversight, cutting out parents, doctors, and legislators, and shifting authority away from the CDC and ACIP to CDPH.

* Confusion and misalignment with federal standards: Locks California to federal vaccine standards as of January 1, 2025, but requires CDPH action for any future updates. This risks California being out of sync during emergencies and undermines clarity when it is most critical.

* Erosion of parental rights and medical judgment: Limits school medical exemptions to American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) standards, sidelining the CDC and ACIP. The AAP receives significant funding from vaccine manufacturers such as Merck and Pfizer, raising neutrality concerns.

* Liability gaps: Creates potential conflicts between state and federal law. Families could be barred from accessing the federal Vaccine Injury Compensation Program if harmed by vaccines authorized only under California rules, while doctors could be exposed to lawsuits for not following federal guidance.

* Jeopardized federal funding: By breaking with national standards, California risks losing critical federal support tied to vaccine policy compliance.

🔎 Important clarification: AB 144 does not mandate the HPV Gardasil vaccine for 8th graders or college students. The advisory language remains unchanged for now.

The bottom line: AB 144 centralizes too much authority, creates confusion, undermines parental rights, opens liability gaps, and risks public trust.

👉 What Comes Next?

Even though AB 144 has been signed, there are important next steps:

* What you can do: Continue raising your voice with your legislators. Tell them why the process and the outcome are problematic. Keep this conversation alive — elected officials need to hear directly from their constituents.

* What AVFCA is doing: AVFCA will be having conversations with legislators to underscore the risks of concentrated authority and the lack of transparency in this process. AVFCA will also continue to educate, organize, and ensure that Californians are represented in future health policy decisions.

* Legal challenges will likely also follow, given the conflicts AB 144 creates with federal law.

We are deeply grateful for your activism. Your calls, emails, and outreach mattered — and they continue to matter as we work toward transparency, accountability, and trust in California’s health policies.

If you found this information helpful and appreciate the work A Voice for Choice Advocacy is doing, please support us by making a donation today.

And please join us for our 10 year Anniversary Gala on October 11th.  Buy your ticket today!  
https://givebutter.com/c/AVFCA2025Gala

C

Christina Hildebrand
President/Founder
A Voice for Choice Advocacy, Inc.
[email protected]
www.AVoiceForChoiceAdvocacy.org