New California laws taking effect in 2026

A new year is upon us and with it, another slate of new laws.

The big picture: State lawmakers introduced nearly 2,400 bills in 2025, and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed about 1,500 of them into law.

Here are a few taking effect in January:

🏠 AB 628 — Landlord appliance requirement: Landlords must provide a working stove and refrigerator in rental units starting in 2026.

🐱 AB 867 — Ban on cat declawing: It will be illegal to declaw cats unless the procedure is deemed medically necessary.

😷 SB 627 — Mask ban for law enforcement: Local, state and federal law-enforcement agencies, including Border Patrol and ICE, will no longer be allowed to use masks to conceal officers' identities during operations.

• The bill was slated to take effect Jan. 1, but a current lawsuit from the Trump administration could delay or even block the policy from going into effect, depending on how the courts rule.

🥡 AB 578 — Food delivery platforms: Companies like Doordash and Uber Eats will be prohibited from using tips or gratuities to subsidize a driver's base pay.

🤖 SB 53 — AI models: New regulations targeting "frontier" AI models, requiring companies to publish safety and risk-assessment reports and follow new transparency, reporting and whistleblower rules.

📱 SB 243 — AI chatbots: The law regulates "companion" AI chatbots, requiring clear disclosure that users are interacting with AI and imposing added safeguards for minors.

🛍️ SB 1053 — New plastic bag ban: The state is removing loopholes that previously permitted stores to sell thicker "reusable" plastic bags. They will be banned and only recycled paper bags will be allowed to be sold.

📄 SB 294 — Workplace Know Your Rights Act: Employers must give employees a written notice by Feb. 1 and annually thereafter detailing organizing rights, immigration-related protections and other labor rights.