California governor vetoes bill that would have limited air quality regulation

California Governor Gavin Newsom attends a press conference about new legislation aimed at improving nutrition in schools across California, at Belvedere Middle School in Los Angeles, California, U.S. October 8, 2025. REUTERS/Mike Blake

By Lisa Baertlein

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -California Governor Gavin Newsom this week vetoed a law that would have limited the regulatory powers of air quality agencies at the ports of the nation's busiest port complex at Los Angeles and Long Beach, which are the biggest source of local air pollution.

California Senate Bill 34 would have prohibited the South Coast Air Quality Management District in the logistics hub counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino from proposing any action that, among other things, would impose a cap on cargo throughput or cruise ship passengers at ports.

"With the current federal Administration directly undermining our state and local air and climate pollution reduction strategies, it is imperative that we maintain the tools we have and encourage cooperative action at all levels to avoid the worst health and climate impacts," Newsom said in a veto statement on Monday.

(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein in Los Angeles; Editing by Aurora Ellis)