California Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday vetoed a bill that sought to give low-income households, regardless of immigration status, $600 for emergency food assistance.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, many families throughout the US have been struggling financially. This bill sought to help alleviate that financial burden by using state funding to contract with a nonprofit entity in issuing food assistance benefits in the form of a prepaid card loaded with $600 that could only be used at retailers that sell groceries. The bill also set forth procedures for administering the program.

Newsom rejected this bill in light of the significant General Fund impact it would have. Further, he suggested that this bill would not be the most appropriate or responsible means of providing relief to citizens of California during this pandemic. Newsom also stated, “it has been my firm commitment that my Administration would support all Californians during the COVID-19 crisis. To that end, my administration has advanced efforts to provide relief that is both inclusive of and directed to undocumented Californians.”