The first woman to sign legislation
in California's 171-year history
For the first time in California's 171-year history, a woman has signed a bill into state law.
Gov. Gavin Newsom normally signs the laws in California, but he left the state on Wednesday night for a family vacation in Central and South America in March 2022. State law requires Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis to act as governor until he returns.
On the final day of Women’s History Month 2022, Acting Governor Eleni Kounalakis signed legislation that extends eviction protections for Californians participating in rental assistance programs, making her the first woman in California’s history to sign a piece of legislation into law.
It ended up being a historic moment for the nation's most populous state, which despite its reputation as the country's progressive powerhouse has never elected a woman as governor.
“It was very humbling. And I did feel that sense of history,” said Kounalakis, who also signed a separate bill relating to elections. “For many years women have been writing legislation ... but no woman has ever signed a bill into law. And it felt like a moment in history that we should recognize as important.”
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