California’s legislative season wrapped up with a flurry of activity as Governor Gavin Newsom signed 794 bills into law and vetoed 123 others on October 13, 2025, according to East Bay Times. These new laws, many taking effect January 1, 2026, cover a wide range of issues—from gun safety and climate change to animal welfare, immigration, public transit, artificial intelligence, and reparations. While some measures have drawn praise for their ambition and scope, others have sparked immediate legal challenges and fierce debate across the political spectrum.
One of the most contentious new laws is Assembly Bill 1127, which prohibits firearms dealers from selling any gun that can be easily converted by hand or with common household tools into a fully automatic weapon. The law, introduced by Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), specifically targets semiautomatic pistols with features like the “cruciform trigger bar,” which allows for the attachment of a device known as a switch. This small, often 3D-printed device can transform a standard handgun into a machine gun capable of firing dozens of rounds in seconds.
Assemblymember Gabriel explained the rationale behind the bill to the Senate Public Safety Committee: “Automatic weapons are exceptionally lethal and capable of firing hundreds of rounds per minute; they are illegal in California. Unfortunately, some semiautomatic firearms feature a dangerous design element allowing them to be converted to automatic weapons through the attachment of an easy-to-use device known as a switch.”
The urgency of the measure is underscored by recent events. Over the last few years, handguns retrofitted with switches have been used in several high-profile shootings, including the 2022 mass shooting in downtown Sacramento that left six people dead and a dozen more injured, as reported by the Associated Press. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) noted a staggering 570% increase in the number of conversion devices collected by police departments between 2017 and 2021.
Despite these concerns, the law has already drawn a swift legal challenge. On October 14, 2025, the National Rifle Association (NRA), along with the Firearms Policy Coalition, the Second Amendment Foundation, individuals, and small businesses, filed a federal lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. The plaintiffs argue that the ban violates the Second Amendment, claiming that semiautomatic handguns with cruciform trigger bars are “not different from any other type of semiautomatic handgun in a constitutionally relevant way.” The lawsuit states, “A law that bans the sale of—and correspondingly prevents citizens from acquiring—a weapon in common use violates the Second Amendment.”
John Commerford, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, did not mince words. “Newsom and his gang of progressive politicians in California are continuing their crusade against constitutional rights. They are attempting to violate landmark Supreme Court decisions and disarm law-abiding citizens by banning some of the most commonly owned handguns in America,” he said in a statement.
California’s new legislative package, however, goes far beyond gun control. In a move lauded by environmentalists, lawmakers reauthorized the state’s landmark “cap and trade” law through 2045. This program, first signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006, requires major polluters—like factories, power plants, and oil refineries—to buy credits for each ton of greenhouse gases they emit. The system creates a financial incentive to cut emissions and, according to East Bay Times, brings in about $4 billion annually. Of this, $1 billion has been earmarked each year for the state’s embattled high-speed rail project, a controversial effort to modernize California’s transportation infrastructure.
Animal welfare took center stage with the signing of Assembly Bill 867, which bans cat declawing in California. The procedure, which involves amputating the third bone on each toe of a cat’s paw, has long been criticized by animal rights advocates for causing pain and long-term behavioral issues. California joins several other states and countries in prohibiting the practice, encouraging pet owners to trim their cats’ nails instead. Newsom also approved three bills to tighten regulations on puppy mills.
Immigration reform was another focal point. Assembly Bill 495 allows parents facing deportation to designate a trusted family friend or relative as a caregiver, empowering them to make medical and school decisions for their children. The bill, supported by immigrants’ rights groups, aims to provide stability for children during periods of family upheaval. However, conservative organizations like the California Family Council argue it could open the door for unvetted adults to assume significant responsibility without adequate oversight.
In response to the ongoing financial crisis facing Bay Area transit agencies—like BART and AC Transit—Senate Bill 63 provides a $750 million emergency state loan. It also authorizes a ballot measure for November 2026, allowing voters to decide on a sales tax increase that could raise $1 billion annually for transit over 14 years. Complementing this, Senate Bill 79 overrides local zoning restrictions to permit taller, denser housing near transit hubs, aiming to make public transportation more accessible and boost ridership.
Rideshare drivers found themselves at the center of a major labor victory with Assembly Bill 1340, which enables them to unionize and collectively bargain for better wages and benefits. This compromise between Democrats, labor unions, and companies like Uber and Lyft also included a separate bill to reduce insurance requirements for rideshare firms—a move designed to address concerns from the industry.
California also took steps to address the risks posed by artificial intelligence. Senate Bill 243, co-authored by State Senator Josh Becker, requires AI chatbot companies to implement publicly accessible protocols to prevent chat-generated content about suicide. The law also mandates that users be reminded they’re interacting with AI, encourages breaks after three hours, and compels companies to take “reasonable measures” to prevent chatbots from encouraging sexual behavior among minors. Tech industry groups have opposed the bill, arguing it may stifle innovation.
Education and civil rights saw new protections as well. Assembly Bill 715 establishes a first-in-the-nation watchdog to combat antisemitism in public schools, requiring districts to investigate and act on discriminatory teaching content. The measure, supported by Jewish-American advocacy groups, was fiercely opposed by the Council on American-Islamic Relations and some educators, who worry it could chill classroom discussions about Israel and Palestine.
Finally, the question of reparations for descendants of enslaved people was addressed with Senate Bill 518, which creates the Bureau for Descendants of American Slavery to verify eligibility. Newsom, however, vetoed five other reparations bills that would have provided benefits such as university admissions preferences and business licenses. While civil rights groups like the NAACP supported the measures, a 2023 UC poll found that Californians opposed cash reparations by a margin of 59% to 28%.
As the dust settles on this legislative session, California finds itself at the forefront of national debates on gun safety, climate action, animal rights, and social justice—often drawing both accolades and lawsuits. The coming months will reveal which of these bold new laws withstand legal scrutiny and public opinion, shaping the state’s future in ways both expected and unforeseen.
