New laws going into effect in July 2026 across California

Starting on July 1, new laws will go into effect, impacting Californians
in various ways, including higher minimum wages and how food and
beverage goods are labeled for consumers. 

Minimum wage
Local jurisdictions, such as Los Angeles County, will update their
minimum wage ordinance, with their hourly pay rates exceeding that of
the state’s requirement. Currently, Californian’s minimum wage is $16.90
per hour for most economic sectors. 

Hotel and hospitality workers as well as those in the health care
industry in some cities will see their hourly pay rates go up, starting
on July 1. 

Here’s are the new minimum hourly rates for general workers:

Hotel and hospitality minimum wage per hour:

New minimum hourly rate for health care workers:

Food and consumers
labeled with more specific phrasing of when the products are expected to
expire. The new law will also promote grocery donations while reducing
food waste, according to the bill’s authors. 

clearly indicate the window of peak product quality, taste or freshness. 
food items. Sell-by dates will largely be banned.
the nation to mandate large restaurant chains to disclose the most
common food allergens to customers and diners -- milk, eggs, peanuts,
tree nuts, wheat, soybeans, fish, shellfish, sesame. The new law applies
to chains with 20 or more locations nationwide, not mom-and-pop shops
and small businesses. 

School and students
to limit or prohibit the use of smartphones by students on school
campuses. AB 3216, also known as the Phone-Free Schools Act, aims to
reduce classroom distractions and protect students’ mental health. 

establish at least one, non-gendered restroom for students. The
bathrooms must come with clear signage, notifying they are open to all
students with all gender identities. 

colleges and universities must note the Trevor Project’s 24/7 crisis and
suicide prevention hotline on their student ID cards (1-866-488-7386).
If a school has unissued ID cards that were printed prior to the
enactment without the hotline number, it can use up the remaining supply
before newly printed badges are used. 

Technology
Peacock, to regulate the audio volume of commercials and prohibit them
from streaming ads at a volume louder than the actual show, movie or
video content. The new law prevents sudden jarring volume spikes for
viewers to reflect the CALM Act from 2010 in the digital age. 

the state, AB 1777 allows law enforcement to ticket fleets that do not
comply with traffic laws. The vehicles also must have a 24/7, free
emergency response hotline for first responders, mandating autonomous
car companies to have a human, remote operator in place. 

Others
to allow multi-family residential developments near public transit hubs.
For example, neighborhoods that are at least half a mile from frequently
used Metro lines will effectively lose single-family zones. Despite
opposition from Los Angeles officials, the new law targets high-density
areas, including LA and San Francisco counties. 

or more) to expand health insurance to cover the infertility diagnosis
and treatments, including IVF. The coverage should include three
completed egg (oocyte) retrievals and an unlimited number of embryo
transfers. 

https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/new-laws-california-july-2026/4039
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