The Brief
- Starting January 1, plastic bags will be banned at stores across California
- In 2026, public schools statewide must enact policies limiting or banning student cell phone use.
- California will also ban declawing cats in the New Year.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – With the New Year just days away, there are several new laws in California that will affect you and your family in 2026 – from cracking down on cell phones in schools, to new rules on food delivery app, as well as changes at the grocery store.
Plastic bag ban
Starting January 1, plastic bags of any kind will be banned at California stores.
“I think it’s a good move. Plastic is a pretty big problem,” said Sydney Chamberlin of Alameda.
“It’s probably slightly inconvenient for us,” said Rick Breslin of Alameda. …