California will become the first state to provide free diapers to newborns starting this summer under a new program Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced Friday.

Under the “Golden State Start” initiative, every newborn in the state will receive 400 diapers when they are discharged from participating hospitals.

“The big problem defined universally in our city, our state and our nation is the issue of affordability,” Newsom said during a press briefing announcing the new program Friday.

“This is what affordability looks like,” the governor continued. “It’s not a slogan; it’s a box. It’s a box of diapers. It’s addressing an essential for any new parent, for any new family.”

The first year of the program will focus specifically on serving hospitals with the largest numbers of patients on Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid health program, before expanding to other hospitals over time, according to the governor’s office.

“Families, California has your back,” California Health and Human Services Secretary Kim Johnson said during the Friday press briefing. “We are leading with innovation, we are always rethinking what government can do. Golden Start reflects that same spirit.”

Johnson added that the program is “not only addressing an immediate need” but “testing a new model.”

“We are innovating how the state can use its scale, its partnerships, and purchasing power to make essential goods more accessible for all Californians,” she said. “At its core, Golden State is about something very simple: giving every child in California a strong start.”

The California-based nonprofit organization Baby2Baby will manufacture the diapers for the program, as part of the state’s effort to create affordable options for parents.

“Diapers are at the core of our mission at Baby2Baby as a shocking one in two families in this country struggles to afford them,” co-CEOs Norah Weinstein and Kelly Sawyer Patricof said in a statement. “We are incredibly grateful to Governor Newsom for his ongoing commitment to combating diaper needs in California and could not be prouder to partner on this historic initiative that will support moms and babies at their most vulnerable time.”

Newsom announced the new affordability initiative ahead of Mother’s Day weekend. The governor is considered a top Democratic contender for the 2028 presidential race, where the cost of living is expected to remain a central issue.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.