California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a new law expanding the campus abortion pill services at the two public university systems in California. With the state government providing the necessary funding, many community colleges will also be required to offer abortion pills.
On September 27, Newsom signed several reproductive health-related bills including AB2540. AB2540 mandates that student health centers at California State University (CSU) and University of California (UC) campuses “promote their abortion pill services” starting January 1, 2028. Additionally, any community college with a student health center must provide abortion pill services by January 2029 and make relevant information available on the college’s website.
AB2540 also requires the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls to report to the state legislature by January 2030 on how many community college health centers provide abortion pill services, and how many such abortions are performed on campus health centers or with their assistance.
Each CSU and UC campus will receive $200,000 in funding from AB2540 for equipment, facility upgrades, staff training, telemedicine, and other related expenses.
The implementation date of the law is delayed due to funding conditions. According to the law, the provision of abortion pill services at community colleges is dependent on whether the annual budget bill allocates funds for that purpose. This means that AB2540 will only come into effect when specific funding is allocated in the state budget.
Critics have questioned the necessity of this law, arguing that it will impose a financial burden. Michelle Buenrostro, a parent of a community college student, wrote in a commentary on the National Right to Life website, “California already has 180 abortion clinics, allows mail-order pharmacies to distribute abortion pills, and lacks any restrictions on medication abortions.”
“For such a large and costly program, the funding issues seem to have been an afterthought,” Buenrostro continued. “Will this increase student tuition or healthcare costs? Are taxpayers footing the bill for this?”
She urged schools to instead provide more support to students’ parents, enabling them to better care for their children while they are attending school.
AB2540 is a continuation of the SB24 bill. Newsom signed the SB24 bill in his first year in office, allocating funds and requiring CSU and UC campuses to provide abortion pill services to students. According to legislative analysis data provided, since SB24 took effect in 2023, the two university systems have already used millions of dollars in state government funding.
Reports from UC campuses show that the number of medication abortions increased from 72 cases in the 2021-2022 academic year to 297 cases by the 2024-2025 academic year. Related services cost approximately $657,000 of state government funds in 2022, increasing annually to around $1.3 million in 2025.
Similarly, reports from CSU campuses indicate that the number of abortions increased from 162 cases in the 2022-2023 academic year to 349 cases by the 2024-2025 academic year. These campuses used between $1.6 million to $3.3 million in funds to cover related expenses.
The above abortion figures represent less than 0.1% of the total student population in both university systems.
Other bills signed by the governor include expanding the authority of certified midwives, nurses, and physician assistants to perform abortions, making it easier for veterans and military families to access abortion services in California, and extending paid maternity leave for firefighters.