SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A slate of new laws taking effect in 2026 will bring big changes to children’s health in California, altering school nutrition standards, access to support services and more.
Below are some of the new laws that have the highest impact on the health and well-being of children in the Golden State.
State Laws
- Assembly Bill 1264: A first‑in‑the‑nation ban on serving the “most concerning” ultra‑processed foods in public schools. The law eliminates items with artificial dyes, excessive sugars and salts and certain additives, with the goal of improving children’s nutrition and long‑term health.
- Assembly Bill 1830: Corn tortillas and masa products sold in California must now be enriched with folic acid. Studies show that birth defects, including spina bifida and anencephaly, are less likely when folic acid intake is adequate.
- Assembly Bill 798: Adds diapers and wipes to state emergency food bank reserves for families with infants and toddlers.
- Assembly Bill 727: Under this law, every student ID card issued by public middle schools, high schools and state colleges must include the 24/7 crisis hotline for The Trevor Project, offering immediate suicide‑prevention support to LGBTQ youth.
- Assembly Bill 3216: Requires public schools to develop policies to limit or prohibit smartphone use during the school day beginning July 1, with the intention of reducing distractions and negative mental‑health effects of excessive device use.
- Assembly Bill 1454: Focuses on improving literacy instruction in public schools by expanding access to reading tools, training and resources for educators.
- Senate Bill 27: Broadens eligibility for the state’s CARE Court program, which helps connect people with severe mental illness to treatment and support. With the passage of the new law, more people can qualify for court-ordered mental health support, which is expected to help families and caregivers struggling to access services for severely affected young adults and older teens.
- Senate Bill 646: Focuses on regulating prenatal multivitamins and strengthening consumer safety standards under existing public health laws. This bill expands the state’s oversight of products marketed for prenatal use.
Federal Laws
- Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act of 2025: Passed in January, this bill lifts restrictions that previously required schools to only offer fat-free or low-fat milk and permits them to offer whole milk. Additionally, schools must provide a substitute for students who have a restricted diet (with a physician’s written statement).
California families will begin seeing many of these changes roll out over the course of the year, with school‑based provisions taking effect by summer.
If you have questions about specific laws and how they impact your family’s health, contact your local representative. You can find your elected representative here.
For a full list of state-specific laws that go into effect in 2026, click here.
