Overview
- Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office announced the Golden State Start partnership with Baby2Baby on Friday, offering 400 diapers at hospital discharge and starting this summer at roughly 65 to 75 sites that serve many Medi‑Cal patients.
- The launch covers about a quarter of California births, with officials projecting 40 million diapers in year one and planning to expand after lawmakers consider a proposed $12.5 million on top of about $7.4 million already set aside.
- Critics highlight an implied cost of about 50 cents per diaper based on the $20 million budget and output target, contrasting it with bulk retail prices near 12 to 16 cents and arguing the state could help families more cheaply.
- Opponents also question governance because Baby2Baby co‑CEO Norah Weinstein sits on the board of Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s California Partners Project, and they call for clearer disclosure on how the nonprofit was selected.
- Baby2Baby says it manufactures diapers far below retail and will procure, warehouse, and deliver through hospitals, while parents can expect the bundle to last roughly five weeks for a typical newborn.