With a looming deadline to sign or veto bills fast approaching, Gov. Gavin Newsom OK’d an array of legislation this week, ranging from protecting election workers to ensuring pay equity for women in the workplace to shoring up stability for victims of domestic violence.

The governor has until Friday, Sept. 30 to sign or veto bills passed by the legislature this year. And with only a handful of days left, Newsom gave the green light to several priority bills for the California Legislative Women’s Caucus.

Among them is AB 1287 from Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan which prohibits price differentials for substantially similar goods. It piggybacks off an already-existing state law that prohibits the gender-based pricing of consumer services, such as dry cleaning or haircuts.

The term “pink tax” refers to the selling of products marketed toward women — but nearly identical to those marketed toward men — at a higher price. The markup on pricing has included items like shampoos, razors, or pens. Sometimes the only difference between the items, besides the price, is the color.

Another bill signed this week, from Sen. Monique Limón, a Santa Barbara Democrat, requires employers with at least 15 workers to provide salary ranges on all job postings. Newsom said it ensures “all women in our state are paid their due and treated equally in all spheres of life.”

“This is a big moment for California workers, especially women and people of color who have long been impacted by systemic inequalities that have left them earning far less than their colleagues,” Limón said.

The Democratic governor also signed legislation prohibiting landlords from terminating or declining to renew a lease solely because the tenant has been a victim of abuse as well as another bill ensuring domestic violence victims have access to free medical evidentiary examinations.

“The reality is that these issues existed long before the pandemic, but the pandemic further exacerbated and highlighted the work we need to do to lift up all women, especially low-income women of color, and (gave) us a greater sense of urgency,” said Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, D-Bell Gardens, chair of the Legislative Women’s Caucus.

The Democratic governor also OK’d a bill from Sen. Josh Newman, D-Fullerton, that allows election workers to enroll in state programs that keep their addresses confidential.

A recent survey from the Brennan Center, a national nonprofit and public policy institute, found 1 in 6 election workers said they have received threats. And efforts are underway in Washington, D.C., to enact federal protections for election workers as well.

“One of the byproducts of an increasingly hostile and polarized political environment has been an alarming rise in threats to election workers and other civil servants,” Newman said. “With midterm elections nearing, the safety and peace of mind of hardworking election workers should be a top priority.”

Newsom said threats to election workers have “skyrocketed in recent years.” He signed legislation that increases mail ballot drop boxes at UC and Cal State campuses as well as adds to multilingual election resources.

“Voting should be safe. Voting should be easy, and with these bills, we’re expanding and protecting our democracy,” Newsom said in a video message shared on social media Monday evening.

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