California Democrats approved another massive wave of legislation this year, with Gov. Gavin Newsom signing 794 new laws that will begin reshaping the state starting in 2026.

While Sacramento pushes through nearly a thousand bills each session, many residents only learn what’s been approved once the changes hit their lives.

Here are the most consequential laws poised to redefine policy in the nation’s largest Democrat-run state and likely influence other blue states that follow California’s lead.

1. Fast-Track Caregiver Designations for Detained or Deported Parents

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Newsom signed AB 495, a bill that allows parents, including illegal aliens, to designate a temporary caregiver using a simple one-page affidavit.

The form does not require a court order and can be assigned to non-relatives, raising concerns about exploitation.

The bill’s Democrat author, Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez, said the measure prepares “childcare providers to prepare for ICE raids” and helps families “maintain care arrangements during detention, deportation or hospitalization.”

Critics warn that the affidavit requires only minimal documentation and could easily be abused.

Republican lawmakers argued the form leaves gaps that “could easily be exploited,” including by traffickers.

2. California Effectively Bans New Glock Purchases

AB 1127 makes most new Glock models illegal to purchase in California unless the company redesigns them to prevent the installation of “Glock switches,” small parts criminals use to convert handguns into automatic weapons.

Democrats claim the law targets illegal modifications, not lawful buyers.

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But gun-rights advocates say the law simply punishes citizens while leaving criminals unaffected.

A California gun-store owner told CBS News that Glock already makes updated models with built-in safeguards, but the state refuses to approve them, effectively banning the product altogether.

3. Schools Must Alert Everyone When ICE Steps Foot on Campus

SB 98 requires every K–12 school and college to send ICE alerts to families and students anytime federal immigration officers appear on campus for any reason.

Districts must build these alerts into school-safety plans by March 2026.

Democrats say the alerts prevent “surprise” enforcement actions.

Critics say the law weaponizes the school system to interfere with immigration enforcement, injects politics into safety protocols, and encourages panic during lawful operations.

4. A State-Run System to Determine Reparations Eligibility

While Newsom publicly distanced himself from some reparations proposals, he signed SB 437, which directs the California State University system to design the official method of verifying whether someone is a descendant of enslaved African Americans.

However, slavery was never legally permitted in California under its state constitution.

CSU may receive up to $6 million to build the genealogical and documentation system.

Beginning in 2026–27, universities must design the framework and report their progress until full implementation in 2029–30, setting up the infrastructure for a future statewide reparations program.

Supporters call it the “next step” in California’s reparative-justice agenda.

Critics point out that CSU is already strained by budget issues and enrollment declines.

5. New Seat-Belt Fit Test Mandates for Teens

AB 435 expands California’s booster-seat enforcement.

Police must now conduct a five-step seat-belt fit test on kids ages 8 to 16, checking posture, belt placement, and size.

If the child fails the test, drivers face a $490 ticket, even if the child is over 8 years old.

Republicans argue the law gives police too much subjective authority, while Democrats say it modernizes safety standards.

California’s Legislative Machine Keeps Turning

California lawmakers introduced and passed 917 bills this year, a volume unmatched in nearly any other state.

It is reinforcing the state’s reputation for hyperactive policymaking and aggressive expansion of government programs.

With over 300 major fraud investigations, skyrocketing costs of living, and persistent public-safety crises, critics argue that Sacramento is pushing ideological legislation instead of confronting the state’s real problems.

Yet for 2026, California is again doubling down on its national role of exporting progressive policy blueprints to other Democrat-run states, using its legislative output as a political force multiplier.

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