California lawmakers have approved a series of new laws set to take effect in 2026, addressing issues such as housing development, wildfire prevention, labor protections, and more.
The measures are expected to shape daily life across Santa Clara County and the state. Several were authored by Silicon Valley legislators and cover a range of topics including environmental policy, law enforcement transparency, education requirements, and tenant protections.
Among the environmental changes is Senate Bill 1053, which closes a loophole in the state’s plastic bag ban by prohibiting grocery stores from offering any plastic shopping bags at checkout starting January 1. Two bills championed by San Jose State Senator Dave Cortese focus on wildfire resilience: Senate Bill 653 clarifies environmentally friendly vegetation management for easier access to wildfire prevention grants through Proposition 4; Senate Bill 429 establishes a statewide wildfire safety program with funding beginning September 1. Cortese also authored Senate Bill 753 to address abandoned shopping carts by allowing cities to return them directly to retailers and increasing retrieval fees from $50 to $100.
Housing legislation includes Senate Bill 79, which streamlines approval for higher-density developments near major public transportation stops effective July 1. Assembly Bill 628 requires landlords to provide working stoves and refrigerators as part of lease agreements starting January 1. Assemblymember Gail Pellerin’s Assembly Bill 723 mandates real estate agents disclose digitally altered listing images and attach originals.
Law enforcement reforms include Senate Bill 805 requiring officers to display their agency name and either their name or badge number during public interactions. Senate Bill 627 generally prohibits officers from covering their faces while on duty but is facing legal challenges. In criminal law, Senator Aisha Wahab’s Senate Bill 258 removes an exception in rape statutes related to spousal disability consent.
Education-related laws include notification requirements for immigration enforcement presence on campuses (Senate Bill 98), mandatory gender-neutral restrooms in all public schools (Senate Bill 760), expanded guaranteed admission programs for qualified high school students into California State University campuses (Senate Bill 640), and repeal of truancy-related misdemeanors for parents or guardians (Assembly Bill 461). Additional measures restrict pet brokers from selling young animals under one year old (Assembly Bill 519) and increase penalties for wage theft violations (Senate Bill 261).
For more details on these new laws affecting Silicon Valley in the coming year, visit San José Spotlight.
