Newsom's 'Golden State Start' promises 400 free diapers per baby as California grapples with budget woes

By Fox News · Fox News

Gov. Gavin Newsom is rolling out a taxpayer-backed freebie for new parents, promising hundreds of diapers for every baby born in California under a new statewide program. The Democrat announced Friday that the state will partner with nonprofit Baby2Baby to hand out 400 free diapers to families leaving participating hospitals, starting this summer. The initiative, dubbed "Golden State Start," is being billed as a first-in-the-nation effort to ease the high cost of raising a child. "Every baby born in California deserves a healthy start in life," Newsom said in a statement, touting the plan as part of his broader push to tackle affordability. CALIFORNIA IS BROKE, BUT IT’S NOT TOO LATE FOR THE REST OF US Under the program, hospitals will distribute the diapers directly to parents upon discharge. Officials said early rollout will prioritize facilities serving low-income patients on Medi-Cal , with plans to expand statewide. During the program’s first year, it will be offered at about 65 to 75 hospitals that handle about a quarter of births in the state and largely serve low-income patients, Newsom’s office said, according to the Associated Press . The move is the latest in a string of family-focused spending initiatives from the Newsom administration, which already includes free school meals and universal preschool for 4-year-olds. Critics are likely to challenge the program's price tag, particularly as California navigates a tightening fiscal environment . Fox News Digital has reached out to the governor's office regarding the costs of the program. According to the Associated Press, the state has allocated $7.4 million in last year’s budget to launch the free diaper initiative, and Governor Newsom’s latest proposal seeks an additional $12.5 million for implementation through the fiscal year ending in June 2027. However, these spending goals collide with a sobering economic reality. In its January budget overview , the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) noted that whil…