California lawmakers approved nearly 800 new laws during the 2025 legislative session, with many scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2026. Additional measures will be implemented beginning in July 2026.
The California State Library reports that 795 bills were signed into law in 2025, including 476 Assembly bills, 318 Senate bills, and one constitutional amendment related to redistricting. Lawmakers also adopted close to 200 resolutions, which do not carry the force of law.
The new legislation spans a wide range of policy areas, including worker protections, health care, consumer rights, housing, elections, education, artificial intelligence, environmental issues, and public safety. Several laws also affect small businesses and aim to shorten the timeline for reporting election results.
Separately, federal tax changes will allow workers nationwide to deduct certain overtime and tip income. Employees may deduct the “half” portion of time-and-a-half pay earned for hours worked beyond 40 in a week, up to $12,500 annually for individuals. Workers who receive tips may deduct up to $25,000 in qualified tipped income per year.
Following is an overview of selected California laws organized by topic.
Worker-Related Laws
Minimum wage increase: Senate Bill 3 raises California’s minimum wage to $16.90 per hour to reflect inflation. The salary threshold for exempt employees will increase to $70,304 annually. Some local and industry-specific wages remain higher.
Tip theft enforcement: SB 648 expands the authority of the Labor Commissioner to investigate and take legal action when employers improperly withhold tips.
Expanded leave options: Assembly Bill 406 allows employees to use paid sick leave and certain unpaid leave if they or a family member are victims of a crime and must attend court proceedings.
Training repayment agreements: AB 692 bans new employment contracts that require workers to repay training costs or pay penalties if they leave a job early, with limited exceptions.
Pay transparency: SB 642 requires employers to provide a good-faith pay range to job applicants and strengthens pay equity requirements.
Layoff notifications: SB 617 requires employers conducting mass layoffs to inform workers if they plan to coordinate services through a local workforce board and to provide information about CalFresh benefits.
Bias training protections: SB 303 protects employees who acknowledge personal bias in good faith during workplace bias training, stating such admissions are not evidence of unlawful discrimination.
Business-Related Laws
Restaurant retrofitting: AB 671 creates a streamlined approval process for small restaurants seeking to update or retrofit existing buildings.
Outdoor dining: AB 592 allows restaurants to continue outdoor dining programs launched during the pandemic and permits open windows and folding doors in restaurants with open kitchens.
Consumer Protections
Used vehicle returns: SB 766 allows consumers who buy or lease used vehicles to return them within three days and requires additional disclosures from dealers. This law takes effect Oct. 1.
Food delivery accountability: AB 578 requires delivery apps to refund customers for missing items and clearly disclose food prices, fees, and tips.
Overdraft fee limits: SB 1075 caps credit union overdraft fees at $14 starting Jan. 1.
Self-storage disclosures: SB 709 requires storage rental agreements to clearly state whether rates are promotional and disclose the maximum charge allowed during the first year.
Data breach timelines: SB 446 requires companies to notify affected parties of data breaches within 30 days of discovery, with limited exceptions for law enforcement needs.
Artificial Intelligence Laws
AI safety transparency: SB 53 requires large AI companies to publicly disclose safety and security practices, report serious safety incidents, and strengthen whistleblower protections. Reports must be submitted to the California Office of Emergency Services.
Deepfake penalties: AB 621 imposes fines on providers that distribute deepfake pornographic content.
Police use of AI: SB 524 requires law enforcement agencies to disclose when AI is used to generate police reports.
Medical AI restrictions: AB 489 prohibits generative AI tools from suggesting that medical advice or care is being provided by a licensed health professional.
Education Laws
Antisemitism oversight: AB 715 establishes an Office of Civil Rights within the education system and creates an antisemitism coordinator appointed by the governor.
Guaranteed CSU admission: SB 640 expands a direct admissions program guaranteeing eligible high school students entry into California State University campuses.
Election-Related Laws
Faster ballot counts: AB 5 shortens the deadline for counties to count most ballots and release results to 13 days after an election, down from 31 days.
Earlier mail ballot processing: AB 16 allows election officials to begin processing vote-by-mail ballots as soon as they are mailed.
Signature verification deadlines: AB 827 reduces the timeframe for notifying voters of signature issues and for voters to resolve them.
Digital precinct maps: AB 17 requires counties to provide free online maps showing voting precinct boundaries.
Health-Related Laws
Insulin affordability: SB 40 caps insulin co-pays at $35 for a 30-day supply under large group health plans. Beginning Jan. 1, California will sell CalRx insulin at a recommended price of $11 per pen, or up to $55 for a five-pack.
Expanded privacy protections: AB 82 broadens privacy protections for individuals receiving gender-affirming care.
Hemp product restrictions: AB 8 bans most industrial hemp extracts in foods and beverages unless they meet strict purity standards and contain no THC or synthetic cannabinoids.
Folic acid fortification: AB 1830 requires most store-bought corn tortillas and corn masa products to be fortified with folic acid, with exemptions for small businesses.
Animal and Environmental Laws
Blue whale protection: AB 14 encourages shipping companies to voluntarily reduce vessel speeds along the California coastline.
Cat declawing: AB 867 prohibits the declawing of cats.
Plastic bag ban: SB 1053 removes an exemption that allowed thicker plastic bags, effectively banning plastic grocery bags.
State symbols: SB 765 designates the giant garter snake as California’s official state snake, while AB 581 names the bigberry manzanita as the state shrub.
Housing Laws
Appliances for renters: AB 628 requires landlords to provide functional stoves and refrigerators in rental units and to repair or replace recalled appliances. Tenants and landlords may agree that tenants provide their own refrigerators.
Crime and Public Safety Laws
Sex crimes involving minors: AB 379 makes it a felony for adults to purchase sex from 16- or 17-year-olds and reinstates loitering with intent to purchase sex as a misdemeanor.
Sexual assault lawsuits: AB 250 temporarily suspends statutes of limitations for certain sexual assault lawsuits involving alleged cover-ups from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2027, excluding public entities.
Officer identification: SB 805 requires law enforcement officers to display their agency name and a name or badge number, with limited exceptions.
Additional Laws Effective Jan. 1
Diwali recognition: AB 268 designates Diwali as a state holiday, allowing schools and community colleges to close and permitting state employees to take the day off. In 2026, Diwali falls on Sunday, Nov. 8, and would be observed the following Monday.
Parking fine relief: AB 1299 allows agencies to reduce or waive parking penalties for individuals who demonstrate financial hardship or homelessness.
Laws Taking Effect July 2026
Food allergen labeling: SB 68 requires restaurants to list major food allergens on menus, making California the first state to adopt such a requirement.
Law enforcement face coverings: SB 627 generally prohibits law enforcement officers from covering their faces, though the measure is currently being challenged in court.
Chatbot safety standards: SB 243 requires developers of AI chatbots to report safety concerns, including expressions of self-harm, and to clearly disclose that users are interacting with AI.
Housing near transit: SB 79 allows residential development near major transportation hubs.
Streaming advertisement volume: SB 576 prevents streaming platforms from airing advertisements at higher volumes than the content being viewed.
