Government and elections
63 upcoming changes, soonest first.
October 2026 1
State Department records requests must go through its FOIA website, FOIA.gov or mail
Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act requests to the State Department must be filed in writing through its FOIA website, the national FOIA.gov portal, or by mail. The rule also gathers in one place the proof of identity needed for requests about a person's own records.
November 2026 1
Police can't make most arrests within 200 feet of polling places on election day
Under temporary rules, officers may not arrest anyone within 200 feet of an open polling place on election day except for crimes that disrupt the polls or harm people or property. Ballot drop-off sites must open at least 30 days before each election.
January 2027 56
Any Angel Stadium sale deal under a land law exemption must call the team the Anaheim Angels
If Anaheim gets a Surplus Land Act exemption to sell or lease Angel Stadium to the Los Angeles Angels, the lease, deed and marketing must call the team the Anaheim Angels, unless, lawmakers say, the city and team reach their own deal.
Building code changes filed without a cost-of-compliance estimate must be rejected
The California Building Standards Commission may not approve or adopt a proposed building standard if the agency's statement of reasons arrives without a completed estimate of what compliance will cost, including the assumptions behind it.
California formally apologizes to Native Americans for state-backed violence
The state accepts responsibility and apologizes for violence and other harms its representatives and the Legislature inflicted on California Native Americans, and orders a plaque with the apology installed in the State Capitol, which grants and private donations may help pay for.
California sets an official Bruce Lee Day every May
The Governor must proclaim Bruce Lee Day on the same day in May every year. Public schools are encouraged, not required, to mark the day with lessons on his life and his contributions to California.
Campaign money can pay only for licensed security guards
Candidates and elected officials may use campaign funds to pay for security personnel only if the guards hold the right license from the state Bureau of Security and Investigative Services. Other rules on campaign-funded security stay in place.
Candidate committees must explain large payments when the candidate isn't running again
A candidate's committee that pays one person $20,000 or more in a reporting period, when the candidate is not on the next ballot and isn't running for the same office, must report the political purpose and any family or staff tie to the payee.
Candidates must swear their ballot designation worksheet is true, and some deadlines move up
Candidates must certify under penalty of perjury that their ballot designation worksheet is accurate. The Secretary of State must tell candidates who else filed for their office at least 78 days before the election instead of 73, and other filing and announcement deadlines move earlier.
Candidates no longer face a maximum number of nomination signatures
Candidates no longer face a cap on nomination signatures: they need only the minimum, and can keep turning in signatures until the county elections official verifies enough. The rule letting officials pull out excess signatures is repealed.
Cities and counties must use more detailed Black ancestry categories in hiring data
When cities and counties collect ancestry or ethnic origin data on new hires, they must include the same added categories for Black or African American groups that state hiring uses, meant to count descendants of people enslaved in the United States.
City council members on parental leave won't lose their seats for missed meetings
Cities must let council members tell the clerk in writing, not at a public meeting, that they are taking parental leave, which no longer counts toward absences that can vacate a seat. Leave lasts 12 weeks, or longer if city employees get more.
Controller's 30-day notice of mandate claim adjustments now runs from the adjustment
The State Controller's 30-day written notice of an audit or review adjustment to a mandate claim now runs from the adjustment, and payment notices no longer count. Local agencies and school districts can choose to offset reductions against unpaid claims or adjust later payments.
Counties must give lawmakers a street-to-precinct index for redistricting
County elections officials must also give the Legislature or its designee a master street index matching addresses to precincts, through a new secure electronic system. Complete, unredacted precinct election returns sent to the state are kept confidential.
County clerks can certify records with a stamped or electronic signature
County clerks can sign certified copies of records with a printed, stamped, electronic or other digital signature instead of only by hand, as long as the clerk's official seal is on the certification.
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha become California state holidays, but courts stay open
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha join the list of state holidays but not court holidays. Public schools and community colleges may close on them under a labor agreement, and state workers may use their personal holiday credit on either day.
Fair fund money must be handed out faster, and a reserve may be kept
The Fair and Exposition Fund now also pays for fair projects to meet state regulations and improve emergency services. Money arriving late in the year must be allocated within 90 days, and a reasonable reserve may be held back instead of allocating everything by year end.
Farmworkers Day state holiday moves from late March to early April
The state worker holiday and optional school and community college closure for Farmworkers Day move from late March to early April. The separate August California Farmworker Day is repealed, and school union contracts signed earlier keep the old day until they expire.
Governor's tribal advisor office becomes the Office of Tribal Affairs with liaisons in agencies
The Governor's Tribal Advisor office is replaced by an Office of Tribal Affairs led by a Secretary of Tribal Affairs, advised by a Tribal Advisory Committee. Every state agency whose work affects tribal governments must name a tribal liaison.
Infrastructure financing districts can pay for sports and entertainment venues
City infrastructure revitalization financing districts, which may fund commercial or industrial buildings for private use, can now explicitly count entertainment and sports facilities among those projects.
Large nonresidential buildings face higher local fines for safety violations
Local fines for health and safety violations at nonresidential buildings of 20,000 square feet or more can reach $1,000, rising to $5,000 for repeats. In Los Angeles County, a violation that causes a disaster declaration can draw up to $50,000, except at offices, schools, stores and institutions.
Late campaign and ethics filings get new caps on fines
The $10-a-day late fine for an original statement of economic interests is capped at $100. For other campaign reports, the cap is the total amount reported or $100, whichever is more, and late copies no longer draw a fine.
Law spells out that local aid to undocumented residents is a public benefit under federal law
Cities, counties and hospital districts were already allowed to aid residents barred by federal immigration rules. The law now says this is a state or local public benefit as federal welfare law defines it, including health care and other services.
Lead county must share local measure text and analysis with other counties within 24 hours
In district elections that cross county lines, the lead county must set deadlines for the measure text and impartial analysis with the other counties, and send them the text, analysis and chosen arguments within 24 hours of getting them.
Legal notices must also run free online on the newspaper's website
Public notices the law requires in a newspaper of general circulation must now appear in print and on the paper's website or e-edition. Newspapers can't charge readers to see those notices online or add a fee for posting them, though other content can stay paywalled.
Local agencies can file ballot measure resolutions with just the county elections office
A city or district putting a measure on a statewide ballot can file its resolution with just the county elections official, if that official passes it to the supervisors or has standing approval. Elections officials can also canvass the results.
Local water and sewer rates can use customer classes instead of exact per-parcel costs
Local agencies can show a property fee matches the cost of service using any reasonable method backed by data. For water and sewer, they can set uniform or tiered rates by customer class without measuring each parcel's exact cost. Connection and capacity fees are excluded.
Martinez can lease its state tidelands for up to 66 years, up from 49
The City of Martinez may now lease the shoreline trust lands the state granted it for up to 66 years instead of 49, or longer if the State Lands Commission finds that is in the state's interest. The city pays for any study the commission needs.
National Guard troops from other states need the Governor's permission to enter California
Military personnel from another state may not come into California to do military or law enforcement work for that state without the Governor's permission. Troops called into federal service, training exercises and compacts signed earlier are exempt.
Paid petition circulators must tell signers out loud that they are paid
Paid signature gatherers must tell each person out loud, before handing over a petition, that they are paid to circulate it. Recall petitions against a superior court judge in places with 50,000 or more voters are due in 120 days instead of 160.
Paid social posters and campaigns now share penalties for missing ad disclaimers
People paid by a campaign committee to post content for or against a candidate or ballot measure lose their exemption from penalties if they leave off the required disclaimer; they and the committee are jointly liable. Committees must flag these payments on campaign reports.
People convicted of felony sexual assault or human trafficking can't run for office
A person convicted of a felony involving sexual assault or human trafficking, in California or elsewhere, can't be a candidate for or be elected to any state or local office unless pardoned. Bribery, embezzlement of public money and perjury were already disqualifying.
Political ads may shorten top donor names and use a shorter candidate disclaimer
Political ads may shorten top contributor names with approved abbreviations, and large signs and billboards over 187 square inches must separate those names with bullets or numbers. Independent expenditure ads now say "Not paid for by candidate" instead of a longer statement.
Presidential nominees must be certified as eligible under the two-term limit
Parties and independent and write-in campaigns must certify under penalty of perjury that their presidential and vice presidential nominees can be elected President under the Twenty-Second Amendment. Without that certification, the nominees' names stay off the California ballot.
Public officials can't issue meme coins, and platforms can't list officials' new ones
State and local public officers, and public employees who control contracts, may not issue meme coins. Crypto platforms may not list for Californians a meme coin issued from this date on that is offered by or with a federal, state or local official.
Public records deadlines now count business days, not calendar days
Agencies now have 10 business days, instead of 10 calendar days, to tell a requester whether they hold disclosable public records, and may extend that by up to 14 business days instead of 14 days.
Rancho Mirage's tax revenue exchange no longer reduces its Tax Equity Allocation
County auditors no longer subtract property tax revenue that the City of Rancho Mirage exchanged with a community services district when they calculate the city's Tax Equity Allocation payment. The change shifts property tax shares among local agencies in the county.
Regional climate transportation plans move to an eight-year cycle, phased in plan by plan
Metropolitan planning organizations will prepare their sustainable communities strategy every eight years with a four-year progress report, starting with their first or second regional plan adopted after a set date; until then the four-year cycle continues. Some state transportation funds must match these plans.
Retiring judges can name a pension beneficiary who isn't their spouse
Judges in the Judges' Retirement System II who retire from this date can have pension payments continue after death to any beneficiary they name, spouse or not, subject to spousal property rights. Spouse benefits after a death in office no longer need 20 years' service.
Sacramento transit board members get $200 a meeting, paid for up to three a month
Sacramento Regional Transit District board members are paid $200 for each noticed board meeting they attend, up from $100. Paid meetings are capped at three a month instead of four.
San Bernardino County gets an independent commission to draw supervisor districts
If the Legislature funds it, a 14-member citizens commission, not the Board of Supervisors, will redraw San Bernardino County supervisor district lines. The commission must follow set criteria and the existing deadlines for county redistricting.
San Diego port can use job order contracts for repair work in a pilot
The San Diego Unified Port District may award competitively bid job order contracts for repair, remodeling and other repeat work, capped at $5 million per contract and $1 million per job order. Contractors must follow the district's project labor agreements.
San Francisco's redevelopment successor may extend Transbay funding pledges
The agency winding down San Francisco's former redevelopment agency already may borrow to pay for Transbay infrastructure. That power now expressly includes deals with the Transbay Joint Powers Authority and the city to extend how long sale proceeds and tax increment are pledged.
Secretary of State can close inactive campaign committees after 180 days' notice
If a campaign committee has filed no report for a year and holds little cash, or registered in error, the Secretary of State can send a notice and close it 180 days later unless the committee or the ethics commission objects.
Seismic Safety Commission adds fire marshal, insurance and growth council members
The state Seismic Safety Commission adds representatives of the State Fire Marshal, the Department of Insurance and the Strategic Growth Council, and the Governor's appointees drop from 10 to 9. A quorum rises from 8 members to 9.
State agencies can hire California tribes for service contracts without competitive bids
State service contracts with a federally recognized California tribe no longer need three competitive bids, and consulting contracts only a tribe can perform skip advertising and bidding. Tribes doing tribal cultural resources consulting can also bid on the follow-up work.
State agency officials can't use nondisclosure agreements on proposed rules or bills
Elected or appointed state agency officers may not sign, or ask others to sign, nondisclosure agreements about drafting or negotiating proposed regulations or legislation, and new ones are void. Agreements covering only trade secrets or private financial or proprietary information are exempt.
State and county fairs can't write service bids that only one bidder can win
Fairs may not issue bid invitations or requests for proposals for service contracts in a way that limits bidding to one bidder. Emergencies and live music bookings are exempt, and contracts awarded in violation are void.
State and local agencies must adopt the Attorney General's immigration enforcement policy
Every state and local agency must put in place the Attorney General's model policy on dealing with immigration authorities, or an equivalent policy. The Attorney General also issues guidance to limit how much information in agency databases is available for immigration enforcement.
State ethics commission can extend disclosure filing deadlines after an emergency
The Fair Political Practices Commission can push back campaign and financial disclosure deadlines by up to 60 days for filers in an area under a declared emergency likely to delay their filing. Campaign statement deadlines can't be extended in the 90 days before an election.
State must offer an online way for voters to fix ballot signature problems
The Secretary of State must give county election officials an electronic system that lets voters fix a missing or mismatched signature on a vote-by-mail envelope. The state must post data by county on how many voters were offered it and used it.
State parks may offer park passes through public libraries
The state parks department may work with the State Library and local library systems to provide state park passes, with the stated goal of lowering entry fee barriers to the parks.
State parks may partner with a tribal support group for the Indian Heritage Center
The state parks department may sign an agreement with a California Indian Heritage Center support organization so California Native American tribes and the department can work together on the center. The group must have a board of directors and a chief executive.
State pension board members get $320 per meeting instead of $100
Certain members of the state teachers' and public employees' retirement boards now get $320 per meeting, up from $100. County retirement boards may also raise their rate to $320, but only after the board of supervisors votes publicly to allow it.
State workers get Native American Day as a paid holiday if the Legislature funds it
If the Legislature funds it, state employees get the fourth Friday in September, Native American Day, as a paid holiday instead of having to use vacation or other leave to take it. Any state bargaining unit may also negotiate for the holiday in its contract.
Taxpayer-funded billboards and bus ads can't show photos of the agency's elected officials
Public agencies may not pay for billboards, bus wraps, bus stop ads or similar ads of at least 24 by 36 inches that include a photo of an elected officer tied to the agency. An official who worked on such an ad shares liability for penalties.
Utility regulators can't work for a regulated company for two years after leaving
A member of the state Public Utilities Commission may not be employed by any company the commission regulates for two years after the commissioner's term ends. Before this, the law only barred utility executives from joining the commission within two years of leaving.
Wider notice and hearing rules before local approvals for private immigration detention
The 180-day notice and two public hearings now apply to any local approval, not just land deals and permits, for private immigration detention sites. Notices must be posted, broadcast in the top five local languages and come with the related documents. Charter cities are covered.
October 2027 1
Immigration support workers can join a state program to keep home addresses secret
Staff and volunteers of immigration support groups who face threats or harassment can apply to the Secretary of State to keep their home address out of public records. Posting or selling their personal information online to incite or threaten violence is also banned.
January 2028 2
Cities, counties and special districts must post their audited finances online
Cities, counties and independent special districts with a website must post their audited financial statements or annual financial report there, in a prominent spot, within 30 days after the report is completed.
State and local agencies must count Middle Eastern and North African groups separately
State and local agencies that collect data on Californians' ancestry or ethnic origin must use separate categories for major Middle Eastern and North African groups. Most of their demographic reports must then include that data, and the totals must be public.
January 2029 1
Candidates and their treasurers must complete state campaign finance training
Candidates with a campaign committee, and their treasurers, must take a state campaign finance course within 30 days of registering; committees already registered get a later deadline. A committee that misses the deadline cannot accept contributions until it is done. A similar local ethics training counts.
June 2031 1
Cities and counties face a deadline for environmental justice plans, with set outreach steps
Cities and counties with disadvantaged communities must adopt or review their general plan's environmental justice part by this deadline, unless they met the standard before the law took effect. Later plans need two workshops, translated notices, a website and a 90-day draft review.