New California Laws Include Gender Neutral School Bathrooms, No Smartphones In Schools

Several new California laws and regulations take effect on July 1, 2026. These cover consumer protections, schools, housing, public safety, healthcare, wages, and more. Most stem from bills passed in 2025.

Here's a summary of notable ones based on recent reports: Consumer Protections and FoodFood allergen disclosure (SB 68 / ADDE Act): Chain restaurants with 20+ locations nationwide must list major allergens (e.g., milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat, soy, sesame) on menus or via accessible alternatives like QR codes.

Standardized food date labeling (AB 660): Manufacturers must use consistent terms like "Best if Used By" (quality) or "Use By" (safety). "Sell By" dates visible to consumers are banned (exemptions for eggs and infant formula). This aims to reduce food waste.

Streaming ad volume limits (SB 576): Services like Netflix cannot play commercials louder than the main content, aligning with federal rules for traditional TV.

Schools and EducationGender-neutral restrooms (SB 760): Public, charter, and private K-12 schools must provide at least one clearly marked, accessible all-gender restroom (single-stall conversions are allowed to minimize costs).

Cellphone policies (AB 3216 / Phone-Free Schools Act): School districts, charters, and county offices must adopt policies limiting or prohibiting student smartphone use during school hours (with exceptions for emergencies, medical needs, or staff direction).

Student IDs with crisis hotline (AB 727): Public middle/high schools and colleges must include the Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention) hotline on new student ID cards.

Housing and DevelopmentTransit-oriented housing (SB 79 / Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act): Overrides local zoning in specified counties (e.g., Los Angeles, San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, San Diego) to allow denser multi-family housing near major transit stops, with affordability requirements.

Public Safety and VehiclesAutonomous vehicles (AB 1777): Police can issue citations to robotaxi companies (sent to DMV). AVs must have two-way communication devices for emergency responders and a dedicated hotline.

Firearm restrictions (AB 1127): Dealers must stop selling certain semiautomatic pistols (e.g., some Glock-style models reclassified as easily convertible to machine guns). Existing ownership and private transfers are unaffected.

Healthcare and Rural ServicesRural perinatal pilot (SB 669): The Department of Public Health must launch a 10-year pilot for up to 5 critical access hospitals to provide standby perinatal/maternity services.

Wages (Local/Industry-Specific Increases)Minimum wage hikes take effect in various cities/counties (e.g., Los Angeles ~$18.42/hour, LA County unincorporated ~$18.47) and for specific sectors like healthcare workers at large systems (phased to $25/hour in some cases) and hotel/hospitality roles (up to $25–$26.50 in places like LA). Check local rules for details.

Other Notable ChangesName/gender changes (related to AB 1084/SB 59): Streamlined processes with confidentiality and reduced objections for adults.

Various regulations (filed March–May 2026) also take effect per the Office of Administrative Law. For the full picture, check official sources like leginfo.legislature.ca.gov or the Governor's Office announcements, as implementation details can vary by locality or industry. Some broader 2026 laws (e.g., on AI, plastic bags, or statewide minimum wage) started January 1 instead.