California Governor Newsom signs 1,040 bills into law

Governor Newsom has concluded the 2026 legislative session, signing 1,040 bills into law out of 1,160 that reached his desk. The new legislation, which takes effect January 1, 2027, covers a wide range of sectors including public safety, employment, and consumer costs.

In public safety, AB 2727 raises the age for certain sex offenders to be eligible for release from prison from 50 to 65. Additionally, several bills aim to strengthen DUI laws, such as SB 907, which increases penalties for hit-and-run and DUI offenses involving prior convictions, and AB 1546, which allows a third DUI within 10 years to be charged as a felony.

New employment regulations will also impact workplaces. These include the “No Robo Bosses Act” (SB 947), which requires human review before using AI tools for employee discipline or termination, and SB 951, which mandates disclosures for layoffs caused by automation. Other workplace changes include updated bereavement leave definitions, new limits on workplace surveillance, and expanded protections against sex discrimination.