The new year brings new resolutions, new opportunities and new laws. Hundreds of new California laws will take effect in 2026. 

Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed nearly 800 bills including lowering the cost of prescription drugs, banning ultra-processed foods in schools, and requiring retailers to transition to reusable bags or paper bags. 

“These new laws reflect who we are: a state that protects workers, respects students, puts people before politics and isn’t afraid to hold powerful interests accountable,”  Newsom said in a press release.

From health care, housing, workplaces and education, here are a few new laws that are worth noting:

• One of the most notable changes has already been in effect after SB 1053 was enacted.  In California, grocery stores’ plastic bags will be phased out as part of a renewed push to curb environmental waste and improve recycling efforts statewide. The bill comes almost a decade after California voters passed a statewide ballot measure that banned single-use plastic bags at grocery store checkouts. The law applies to supermarkets, large retailers with pharmacies, convenience stores, food marts and liquor stores.

• Ultraprocessed foods in schools will also be banned with the passage of AB 1264. California’s first-in-the-nation law will remove the most concerning ultra-processed foods from being served at public schools, giving students healthier, real-food meals to improve nutrition and overall health.

• Supporting student literacy: AB 1454 provides educators and school leaders greater access to the tools, training and resources needed to help students become better readers.

• Streamlining college admissions: SB 640 establishes a California State University (CSU) direct admissions process by notifying eligible high school students of automatic admission to participating CSU campuses. It also requires California Community Colleges to create programs that will support a smoother transfer for community college students to a four-year university.

• Diapers and wipes will also be included in the state emergency food bank reserve program after AB 798 was enacted for families with young children. Under existing law, a recipient of the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program who is participating in a welfare-to-work plan is eligible for $30 per month to assist with diaper costs for each child who is under 36 months of age.

• Food delivery platforms: AB 578 strengthens consumer and worker protection on food platforms. The bill prohibits companies from using tips to offset base pay, requiring clear and itemized pay breakdowns for delivery workers, mandating access to a real customer-service representative when automated systems cannot resolve an issue, and guaranteeing refunds when orders are undelivered, incorrectly or only partially fulfilled.

• SB 1075 was passed and signed into law in 2024. State-chartered credit unions are prohibited from charging overdraft fees exceeding $14 or the amount set by the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, whichever is lower. 

• Ensuring renters have essential appliances is also required with AB 628. Beginning on Jan. 1, landlords must provide working stoves and refrigerators entering into a new rental agreement and, if applicable, must repair or replace it if it has been recalled or becomes inoperable.

• On Jan. 1, California’s statewide minimum wage was also increased to $16.90 per hour up from $16.50. With SB 294, employers must ensure that exempt salaried employees earn at least twice the state minimum wage, at least $70,304 annually for full-time workers to maintain exemption status. Employers who fail to comply with minimum-wage requirements may be required to pay back wages and penalties, including liquidated damages.

To view the full list of new laws, visit gov.ca.gov/2025/12/31/new-in-2026-california-laws-taking-effect-in-the-new-year/.