Overview
- California eliminates single-use plastic grocery bags statewide starting Jan. 1, following a 2024 law and an October attorney general settlement that closed the reusable-bag loophole.
- A $35 monthly cap on insured patients’ insulin costs begins Jan. 1, and non‑medically necessary cat declawing is now prohibited.
- Food delivery platforms must provide full refunds, including tips and fees, for undelivered or incorrect orders, and most rental units must include a working stove and refrigerator under new habitability standards.
- School districts must adopt policies by July 1 to limit or ban student smartphone use during the school day, while a separate law expands K–12 anti‑discrimination enforcement and establishes a state Office of Civil Rights with an antisemitism prevention coordinator.
- A first‑in‑the‑nation AI transparency law requires major developers to disclose safety protocols and report critical incidents, as a new limit on officer face coverings faces a U.S. Department of Justice challenge.