Californians will see several new laws go into effect on July 1, some of which could affect their daily lives.
The laws range from prohibiting video streaming services from playing ads at a loud volume, to the creation of a pilot program to address the critical need for hospitals in rural areas.
Here are a few new California laws to know about:
Phone-Free Schools Act
Assembly Bill 3216: Initially passed in 2024, the Phone-Free School Act requires every school district, charter school, and county office of education to adopt a new policy that would limit or ban the use of smartphones in schools starting July 1.
School districts will be allowed to create their own policies to either limit or ban smartphones in school, but the law requires exceptions for emergencies, to respond to a threat of danger, medical needs, or if a smartphone is required in a student’s individualized education program.
Trevor Project’s 24/7 Suicide Hotline and Text Line for Students
Assembly Bill 727: Starting July 1, the bill requires public schools serving grades 7 to 12 and public higher education institutions to print the telephone number and text line for the Trevor Project’s LGBTQ+ suicide hotline on a student’s identification cards.
All-Gender Bathrooms
Senate Bill 760: Initially passed in 2023, SB 760 requires every public and private school serving grades 1 to 12 to provide at least one gender-neutral restroom that students can use on school sites, starting July 1.
Local Minimum Wage Increases
At the start of 2026, California’s statewide minimum wage increased from $16.50 to $16.90 per hour. However, certain cities have their own specific local ordinances that require additional minimum wage increases. These cities will see their increases start on July 1:
- Alameda — $17.76
- Berkeley — $19.61
- Emeryville — $20.34
- Fremont — $18.05
- Los Angeles — $18.42
- Los Angeles County (unincorporated areas) — $18.47
- Malibu — $17.91
- Milpitas — $18.50
- Pasadena — $18.57
- San Francisco — $19.61
- Santa Monica — $18.47
Affordable Housing Near Transit Act
Senate Bill 79: As a method aimed to address the housing crisis in California, SB 79 allows housing developers to qualify for “transit-oriented housing development” zoning if they are planning to develop high-density housing within a half-mile of major transit stops.
Regardless of a city’s zoning or development standards, the law requires municipalities to adopt this new housing development permit if a development meets the requirements. Developers can build up to 95 feet in height and up to 160 dwelling units per acre.
New ‘Quiet Ads’ Standards
Senate Bill 576: Streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime and more will not be allowed to play advertisements that are louder than the content being watched.
The legislation aligns with federal guidelines already in place for broadcast and cable TV under the Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation (CALM) Act, which was signed into law in 2010 and regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, prior to the proliferation of streaming services.
Regulation Regarding Driverless Cars
Assembly Bill 1777: Initially passed in 2024, the bill will provide additional oversight of autonomous vehicles under California law and address safety concerns related to malfunctions in major cities, starting July 1.
The law will allow law enforcement agencies to issue tickets to autonomous vehicle companies for violations of the rules of the road. It also creates new safety regulations for autonomous vehicles.
New Food Labeling Standards
Assembly Bill 660: Initially passed in 2024, the law prohibits manufacturers from using “sell by” dates on consumer packaging for food products, starting July 1.
Instead, companies will be required to use standardized terms to indicate freshness and safety:
- Quality: “Best if Used By” or “Best if Used or Frozen By”
- Safety: “Use By” or “Use or Freeze By”
New California Allergen Menu Law
Senate Bill 68: The Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences Act requires restaurant chains with 20 or more locations to clearly disclose the “Big 9” major food allergens in menu items.
The nine allergens that restaurants must disclose are: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, soy, and sesame.
Regulations on Machine Gun-Convertible Pistols
Assembly Bill 1127: The law adds strict new regulations prohibiting a licensed firearms dealer from selling, exchanging, or delivering any semiautomatic handgun with a cruciform trigger that could be easily modified into a “machinegun-convertible pistol.”
Certain models of handguns can allow semi-automatic guns to fire without repeatedly pulling the trigger if an accessory called a machine gun conversion device is installed. This law will not affect current gun owners and does not restrict the transfer or sale of the firearm between private individuals.
Over 100 gun models have been removed from California’s “Handguns Certified for Sale” list since the start of 2026.
Protection Regarding Name, Gender or Sex Identifier Changes
Senate Bill 59: The bill expands current California privacy laws, requiring courts to seal official name, gender, or sex identifier change petitions and records, upon request of the petitioner.
New Standardized Curriculum for Mandated Reporters
Senate Bill 119: SB 119 requires the California Department of Social Services’ Office of Child Abuse Prevention to develop a new standard curriculum for mandated reporter training that would be implemented statewide.
The plan would need to be developed in partnership with local community representatives, caseworkers, and individuals and families with lived experience with the child welfare system. The bill would also establish a “Mandated Reporting Advisory Committee” to assist the council in addressing reform priorities.
Rural Hospital Perinatal Service Pilot Program
Senate Bill 669: As California’s rural counties continue to see their local hospitals close due to rising labor costs and federal Medicaid funding cuts, the California General Assembly passed SB 669 to ensure rural communities would not experience “maternity care deserts.”
The law requires the California Department of Public Health to establish a 10-year pilot program to allow five critical access rural hospitals to operate labor and delivery units on a “standby” basis, starting July 1. The first two nonprofit hospitals must be located in Humboldt and Plumas counties.
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