California lawmakers race to pass bills before midnight deadline
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
California lawmakers on Monday are facing a midnight deadline to pass new laws as the state’s legislative session comes to an end, with a few exceptions scheduled for votes on Tuesday morning.
A massive last-minute spending bill and a separate proposal related to wildfire liability will be voted on Tuesday morning.
Among the proposed laws being tracked:
AB 1896 would ban federal immigration officers from working as California state employees.SB 493 would allow the governor to declare a state of emergency during international conflicts involving the federal government, enabling the state attorney general to crack down on price gouging. The bill specifically targets the oil industry.Two proposals, AB 2383 and SB 886, aim to regulate data centers by creating new rules for their electricity use. These bills would also require the California Public Utilities Commission to set special rates for data centers to ensure costs are not shifted to general electricity customers.
These are just a few of the hundreds of bills California lawmakers have been working on this year.
See below for information on bills that were approved on Monday.
Social media companies prohibited from using their addictive features on kids under age 16
AB 1709, would prohibit social media companies from using addictive features on children under 16 years old.
California unanimously passed the first-in-the-nation law.
Human oversight of AI in the workplace passes
SB 947 would require human oversight of artificial intelligence systems in the workplace. The bill bars California employers from solely relying on AI systems to fire or discipline workers.
Tax on ICE detention companies passes
AB 1633 would would impose a 25% tax on companies profiting from ICE detention. The money would be put into a fund to support immigration-related services.
Fireworks safety bill that was motivated by the Esparto explosions passes
SB 828, authored by Sen. Christopher Cabaldon, D-West Sacramento, was written after a deadly explosion at an illegal fireworks storage facility in Esparto on July 1, 2025.
The requires fireworks license applicants to disclose the location of their storage facilities to the State Fire Marshal as well as notify local fire chiefs, officials, and law enforcement.
It also expands license denials to cover felony convictions and pending indictments, aligning the state regulations with ATF regulations.
It also requires local agencies to inspect every fireworks storage site once a year; gives local agencies authority to suspend or revoke permits; closes a loophole letting sellers evade the law by shipping fireworks kits as separate components; and creates a new fine schedule with penalties reaching $5,000 for repeat offenses.
Vote-by-mail ballot interference law passes
On Sunday, lawmakers sent Gov. Gavin Newsom a bill that would make it a crime for anyone to interfere with the delivery of a vote-by-mail ballot.
SB 259 makes it a felony for anyone who is a supervisor or position of authority to direct anyone to interfere with the delivery of a mail-in ballot whether that’s to the voter or local elections office.
Supporters said the bill protects California’s vote-by-mail system. Opponents said it would criminalize U.S. Postal Service workers.
Newsom has until the end of September to sign or veto the bills sent to his desk.
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