These 10 new California laws go into effect today. Here’s what you need to know
New Year’s Day — Thursday, Jan. 1 — marks the start of a new year and a new set of California laws.
A wave of new California laws take effect on Thursday, Jan. 1, bringing changes that affect everything from health care and pets to food delivery services and grocery store trips.
Here’s a breakdown of 10 new California laws — and what they mean for you:
What is the new minimum wage in California?
Starting Thursday, Jan. 1, California’s statewide minimum wage increases from $16.50 to $16.90 per hour.
However, some workers already earn more, according to the California Department of Industrial Relations.
In 2024, fast food workers in California — employees of “national fast food chains” offering “limited-service” options — began earning a minimum of $20 per hour.
Some California health care workers can earn a higher minimum wage that ranges up to $25 an hour, depending on where they work and the type of facility that employs them.
Additionally, several California cities will set local minimum wages above the statewide hourly rate of $16.90 in 2026.
According to the UC Berkeley Labor Center, here are some of the California counties and cities that will have minimum wages exceeding $17 per hour starting Thursday, Jan. 1:
- Belmont — $18.95 per hour
- Hayward — $17.79
- Menlo Park — $17.55
- Oakland — $17.43
- San Diego — $17.75
When will plastic bags disappear from grocery stores?
A new statewide ban on plastic bags goes into effect on Thursday, Jan. 1.
Under Senate Bill 1053, signed into law in September 2024, many California stores will no longer be allowed to hand out plastic bags at checkout.
This includes grocery stores, convenience stores, food marts and retailers with pharmacies, such as Target and Walmart.
The rule also applies to curbside pickup and home delivery.
Instead, stores will only be able to provide 10-cent recycled paper bags to customers at checkout counters, self-checkout kiosks and in-store pickup purchases, according to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.
Can I get a full refund if my food delivery never arrived?
Assembly Bill 578 changes how food delivery apps, such as Uber Eats, DoorDash and Postmates, handle problems with orders starting Thursday, Jan. 1.
Under the new law, delivery platforms must issue a full refund if your food never arrives or if you receive the wrong order.
The law also requires these companies to offer human customer service when automated systems fail to fix the issue.
In addition, food delivery apps must clearly show an itemized breakdown of pay, tips and bonuses for delivery drivers, creating more transparency for both customers and workers.
Do employer health plans cover fertility treatment?
Senate Bill 729 requires employers with 100 or more employees to offer health insurance to cover infertility diagnosis and fertility treatments, including in vitro fertilization.
Most new or renewed health insurance plans must offer this coverage starting Thursday, Jan. 1.
The law also updates the definition of infertility to be more inclusive and aims to improve access to fertility care for everyone — including members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Some exceptions apply for religious employers.
Can AI give health care advice?
California’s Assembly Bill 489 — which regulates the use of artificial intelligence in health care — takes effect Thursday, Jan. 1.
The law targets AI systems that misrepresent themselves as licensed health care professionals.
Developers and operators are prohibited from using titles, icons, phrases or language that falsely suggest a human health care provider is giving advice or assessments, according to the bill.
What new California laws affect pets?
Two new California laws aim to improve animal welfare and protect pet owners starting Thursday, Jan. 1.
Assembly Bill 867 bans declawing cats to prevent scratching. Removing a cat’s toe bones is only allowed for medical reasons, such as illness, injury or infection.
Assembly Bill 506 takes action to end the puppy mill pipeline, requiring pet sellers to provide clear information about a pet’s health history and origin.
It also bans nonrefundable deposits on pet purchase contracts, giving buyers added protection.
What’s changing with self-storage rental fees?
A new law will make self-storage pricing more transparent for renters.
Under Senate Bill 709, self-storage rental agreements must clearly state whether a rate is a discount or promotional price, whether the rent is expected to increase and what the highest possible rental fee could be during the first year — or 12 months.
The law applies to agreements signed on or after Thursday, Jan. 1.
What’s the new California law for deleting social media accounts?
Starting Thursday, Jan. 1, social media platforms in California must make it simple to delete your account.
Assembly Bill 656 requires platforms to have a clear “Delete Account” button in settings and provide the steps to remove your account and personal data once the button is clicked.
Platforms cannot use confusing designs or “dark patterns” to prevent users from deleting their accounts.
Can books be banned in California?
Starting Thursday, Jan. 1, California’s Assembly Bill 1825 — the Freedom to Read Act — takes effect.
The law requires that all state-funded public and school libraries must have clear, public rules about what books are in their collections.
Schools cannot ban books for political reasons. They must also provide a clear process for anyone who wants to challenge a book in the collection.
“The library materials may include sexual content, unless that content qualifies as obscene under United States Supreme Court precedent,” the law says.
This story was originally published January 1, 2026 at 5:00 AM with the headline "These 10 new California laws go into effect today. Here’s what you need to know."
