What are the new laws in California for 2026
Executive summary
California enacted hundreds of measures in 2025 that produce a wide array of legal changes taking effect in 2026 — from workplace rules and pay-transparency to public‑safety limits on face coverings by officers, a statewide ban on nonmedical cat declawing, and new consumer and housing requirements such as bans on thicker grocery bags and mandatory stoves/refrigerators in rentals (examples cited: SB 627, AB 867, plastic bag ban, appliance/tenant rules) [1] [2] [3] [4].
1. What’s changing at a glance: headline bills and sectors
Major categories of change include employment and labor (new pay‑equity reporting, expanded enforcement powers, limits on “stay‑or‑pay” clauses, wage‑judgment penalties), public‑safety and policing rules (limits on facial coverings for officers and ID display requirements), consumer and housing protections (ban on thicker grocery bags, requirements that rentals include basic appliances), and animal‑welfare rules (declawing ban for cats except for medical necessity) [5] [6] [7] [2] [3] [1].
2. Employment law: far‑reaching compliance requirements for employers
Employers face an extensive set of new mandates effective mostly Jan. 1, 2026: pay‑equity expansion (SB 642/Pay Equity Enforcement Act) and enhanced pay‑data reporting and storage rules; prohibition of many stay‑or‑pay training/relocation repayment clauses (AB 692); new penalties and enforcement tools for unpaid wage judgments and tip protections; and expanded notice and personnel‑file obligations — legal firms and labor experts say these changes materially raise employer compliance burdens [5] [6] [7] [8].
3. Policing and identification: the “No Secret Police Act” and ID rules
SB 627 (dubbed in coverage the “No Secret Police Act”) bars most law‑enforcement officers — including federal immigration agents operating in California — from covering their faces while conducting official business and requires agencies to craft policies limiting facial coverings; related measures will require non‑uniformed officers to visibly display agency and name/badge numbers when enforcing laws, with some exceptions [1] [4] [2]. The Trump administration has already challenged the mask ban in court and publicly signaled noncompliance, raising immediate legal and intergovernmental conflict questions [2].
4. Consumers, housing and daily life: bags, appliances and schools
California tightens single‑use bag rules by banning thicker “reusable” grocery bags that previously skirted the 2014 ban; apartments will be required to include a working refrigerator and stove; food‑delivery platforms must stop using tips to subsidize base pay and must itemize pay breakdowns; and starting July 1, 2026, public schools must provide at least one gender‑neutral restroom — all measures that affect daily consumer and tenant experiences [3] [4] [9].
5. Animals and ethics: declawing ban and puppy‑mill measures
AB 867 makes declawing cats illegal except when a veterinarian determines it’s medically necessary for the cat’s health; the American Veterinary Medical Association has expressed concern over restricting professional judgment, while California becomes one of several states to limit the practice. The Legislature also passed measures targeting commercial breeding and related standards [1] [2].
6. Politics, lawsuits and implementation friction
Several bills are already drawing litigation and political pushback: the facial‑covering prohibition prompted a federal lawsuit and declarations of noncompliance from federal authorities; labor and employer groups warn about workforce and payroll systems needing overhaul for pay‑data and notice requirements; and some new rules carry delayed compliance dates (e.g., July 1, 2026 for restroom mandates and agency policy postings) that reflect both technical rollout needs and contested politics [2] [9] [5].
7. Limitations and what this reporting does not say
Available sources list many headline items but do not provide full statutory text or every effective date for all ~900 bills signed; they do not present complete enforcement guidance, regulatory rulemaking details, or court outcomes for pending lawsuits — those remain to be tracked in agency rulemaking dockets and litigation filings [3] [5] [2]. For precise employer, landlord, or law‑enforcement obligations you must consult the statute and implementing regulations or legal counsel [5] [4].
8. Bottom line for Californians and interested observers
The 2026 wave of laws represents a deliberate push by California to reshape labor protections, consumer safeguards, and public‑safety norms while asserting state policy priorities that may spark federal litigation and industry compliance costs; readers should note competing viewpoints in source coverage — advocacy and legal outlets highlight benefits and worker protections, while federal officials and some professional associations raise constitutional, safety, or professional‑autonomy objections [7] [2] [1]. Follow agency rulemaking and court developments for how these headline laws will be applied in practice [5] [2].