New California laws taking effect in 2026
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Illustration: Lindsey Bailey/Axios
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.
