CALIFORNIA STATE – California kicked off 2026 with a wave of new rules that touch everyday life — your paycheck, your apartment, your grocery run, how you order food, and what happens on the road.
Here are six of the most noticeable changes (most took effect January 1, 2026).
1) The statewide minimum wage is higher
California’s statewide minimum wage rose to $16.90 per hour on January 1, 2026 (some cities and counties require more). CalDIR
What to do: If you’re hourly, check your first January pay stub. If you’re an employer, this is the new statewide floor, even for small businesses.
2) Rentals now need a working stove and refrigerator (for new or renewed leases)
A new law updates what counts as a “tenantable” rental unit. For leases entered into, amended, or extended on or after January 1, 2026, landlords must provide a working stove and a working refrigerator as part of habitability. LegiScan
There is also language allowing a tenant and landlord to mutually agree (in writing at signing) that the tenant will provide and maintain their own refrigerator — but the default expectation is that the landlord supplies and maintains it.
What to do: If you are signing or renewing a lease in 2026, read the appliance section closely. If a fridge is tenant-provided, make sure the lease spells out who maintains it.
3) Plastic checkout bags are getting stricter statewide
California tightened its plastic bag rules by closing loopholes that let thicker plastic film bags be treated as “reusable.” The state is pushing retailers away from plastic film checkout bags and toward truly reusable bags that meet durability standards or paper bags with recycled-content requirements. Governor of California
What to do: Keep a couple reusable bags in your trunk, backpack, or stroller. If you forget, expect paper bags (often for a small fee depending on local rules and retailer policy). ABC7 San Francisco
4) Some health plans must cap insulin copays at $35
A new requirement applies to large state-related health insurers: starting January 1, 2026, insulin copays must be capped at $35 for a 20-day supply (the details depend on plan type and how it’s regulated). Governor of California
What to do: If you use insulin and your January refill looks higher than expected, contact your insurer or pharmacy and ask specifically about the $35 cap and whether your plan falls under the rule.
5) Food delivery apps: real refunds and clearer pay rules
California strengthened protections around food delivery platforms in a way both customers and drivers will notice:
- Platforms can’t use tips to offset a driver’s base pay and must pass tips through in full. Governor of California
- The law also requires more transparency (like clearer breakdowns) and better customer service pathways.
- And for customers, missing/incorrect orders are supposed to be handled with refunds to the original payment method rather than steering people into app credits (with some nuance for partial problems). People.com
What to do: If an order is wrong, take a quick photo immediately and request a refund through the app — and if the app pushes credits, you can reference that California now requires stronger refund practices for certain situations.
6) New driving rules: red-light cameras, “move over,” and tougher plate penalties
A cluster of traffic changes took effect in 2026, including:
- Cities and counties can run automated red-light enforcement programs under new authorization. foxla.com
- Drivers must slow down and move over for any stationary vehicle displaying hazard lights or warning devices (expanded from prior, narrower rules).
- There are tougher penalties for license plate obstruction products/tints and related violations (reported as reaching $1,000 in some cases).
- DUI rules also expand ignition interlock requirements for offenders (the IID program is extended/expanded). foxla.com
What to do: Watch for local announcements about where camera enforcement will be used, and treat hazard lights like a cue to create space (lane change when safe, otherwise slow down).
Good overview—especially the point about how compliance timelines will catch people off guard more than the laws themselves. One practical thing I’d add is planning for operational disruption early, not just paperwork. For example, during renovations or code-driven upgrades, having access to a temporary kitchen setup (like a Camino kitchen trailer service from TemporaryKitchens123) can help businesses stay functional while meeting new requirements. Thinking through those logistics now makes the legal changes feel a lot more manageable.