New year, lots of new laws in California: Major education, health, and housing changes under new 2026 laws
Sacramento, California – A lot of new laws in California will start to take effect in 2026. These laws will change how people live their lives every day in schools, workplaces, healthcare, housing, technology, and consumer protections. California’s leaders say that the policies are in line with the state’s values. They aim to make the state safer, more affordable, and more accountable, while also dealing with new problems related to technology, climate, and equity.
A lot of the most obvious changes happen in the classroom. Student IDs at public middle schools, high schools, and colleges will now include a 24-hour crisis hotline for LGBTQ youth on them. This will make it easy for them to get mental health help right away.
At the same time, California is working to make students healthier by becoming the first state to remove some ultra-processed meals from public school menus. New legislation also put more emphasis on learning outcomes. For example, there is more assistance for teaching reading and writing, and the college admissions process has been made easier. High school seniors who are eligible will automatically be notified of their admittance to participating California State University campuses.
This year, healthcare rules will affect families at almost every stage of life. Large state-run health insurance companies must now limit insulin copays to $35 for a 20-day supply. This is expected to help thousands of people with diabetes save money.
Other steps make it easier for alternative birth centers to open and get Medi-Cal payment, boost support for midwifery training, and make prenatal vitamins more available. A pilot program that will set up standby prenatal services in some critical access hospitals will also bring fresh investment to rural areas. Also, the state’s emergency food bank reserve has been expanded to include diapers and wipes for families with young children.
New protections also help immigrant families and students. Schools must now publicly post information about kids’ rights when it comes to immigration enforcement. This makes it obvious that all children have the right to a free public education.
Along with this, a rule that requires families to be ready for anything makes privacy safeguards stronger and limits the gathering of immigration-related information, especially during emergencies or when families are separated.
In 2026, rights for tenants and housing will also expand. Landlords must supply working refrigerators in rental apartments, which officially recognizes that access to basic equipment is important. Cities and counties, on the other hand, must make long-term plans that encourage home construction near public transportation. This will make it easier for people to go around in the future.
California is also making rules stricter for the safety of animals, workers’ rights, and the internet. There is now a nationwide ban on declawing cats for non-medical reasons. New restrictions also target the puppy mill pipeline by making it easier to see what’s going on and reducing the number of third-party pet brokers. Workers have better tools to fight for equitable pay, and anyone who were sexually assaulted at work and then covered up for it can file civil charges for a limited time, no matter when the harm happened.
Lawmakers are putting limits on artificial intelligence when it comes to technology. New restrictions stop AI tools from pretending to be certified professionals, demand disclosures when police reports are made with AI, and set safety standards for chatbots used by young people. Big AI companies now have to write down their plans for reducing risk, and prohibitions against sexual exploitation by AI are getting stronger.
New laws for plastic bags that address loopholes and encourage stores to offer paper options that can be reused or recycled are also a step forward for environmental policy. As California moves into 2026, these laws represent a big and important change. They put health, openness, and consumer protection at the center of state policy.
