9 New CA Laws That Will Affect Your Wallet

The cost of living has become a defining issue of the 2026 midterm elections, particularly in California. However, a series of recently-signed bills aim to alleviate some pressure Californians are feeling.

Several laws signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September establish new protections to make sure that consumers are protected from deceptive marketing practices, excessive and opaque fees, and potentially higher electricity bills due to the proliferation of data centers. Many also provide new paths of recourse for consumers who fall prey to dishonest practices.

Here are nine bills that could potentially save you thousands of dollars, whether you’re buying a new car, a concert ticket, installing a heat pump or got wrapped up in a cryptocurrency scam.

Car Buyer Protections

A classic sign of trust is “would you buy a used car from this person?” Now, Californians buying cars don’t need to rely quite as much on trust and vibes as they used to.

SB 766, also known as the Combating Auto Retail Scams Act, introduces new protections designed to help people avoid scams on new and used car purchases. Dealers must provide clearer, upfront pricing and disclose financing costs earlier in the sales process. Dealers must also disclose the vehicle’s total price in advertisements identifying a specific vehicle, advertisements mentioning a price or financing terms for a specific vehicle in their first written response to a customer asking about a particular vehicle.

While federal and state laws already required the disclosure of financing info like the annual percentage rate and total payments, SB 766 requires that this info must be disclosed during negotiations, rather than in the final contract.

Consumers now have extended cancellation rights. The new bill gives buyers three days to return a qualifying used car costing $50,000 or less for any reason, as long as it is in the same condition as it was when they bought it and had not driven more than 400 miles since purchase.

The law also prohibits dealerships from requiring customers to purchase optional add-ons, such as paint protection or theft-prevention packages, as a condition of buying the vehicle. Dealers must disclose that such products are optional.

SB 766 went into effect Oct. 1, 2026.

Insurance Protections After Disasters

Many Californians are all too well-acquainted with the difficulties of filing insurance claims after wildfires and other natural disasters. SB 876, or the Disaster Recovery Reform Act, aims to better protect consumers with a number of reforms, including more protections for temporary living expenses and expanded violation penalties paid directly to consumers.

Starting in 2028, the law will double penalties for certain insurance claims violations during declared emergencies, including misrepresenting coverage, unreasonably delaying claims, and offering substantially less than a claim was worth. It also allows regulators to require insurers to directly compensate policyholders harmed by certain violations.

SB 876 also requires insurers to better manage changes in claims adjusters, so that customers do not have to explain their losses repeatedly to different people. Starting in 2028, insurers will be required to offer eligible homeowners additional rebuilding coverage of at least 50% above their basic dwelling insurance limits.

Starting Jan. 1, 2028, insurers must offer homeowners the option to purchase at least 50% more coverage for temporary living expenses, including housing, transportation, and pet boarding while their homes are unavailable.

Finally, insurers must submit plans by April 1, 2028 explaining how they intend to staff disaster claims, communicate with policyholders, train adjusters, and maintain operations during large emergencies.

Medical Paperwork Fees

Some patients have reported that California doctors charge hundreds of dollars in administrative fees to complete medical certification forms required for California disability insurance and paid family leave benefits.

AB 2292 prohibits medical professionals from charging administrative fees to complete forms required to receive or re-certify those benefits, though providers can still charge for medical examinations and applicable copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance.

Consumer Protection For Third-Party Ticket Sellers

AB 1349 aims to curb abuses and fraud for third-party ticket sales. It prohibits sites from listing concert tickets before they obtain them, and requires ticket resale platforms to implement measures to prevent speculative listings. It also allows buyers to recover twice the contracted ticket price if the platform fails to provide the ticket at the agreed price. Buyers are also entitled to nonrefundable expenses the buyer incurred trying to attend the event, and attorney’s fees and court costs.

It also prohibits misleading ticket advertisements, including websites that falsely appear to represent official venues, and claims that events are sold out when tickets remain available from authorized sellers. It also cracks down on ticket-buying bots, and prohibits the use of software and other methods to bypass online queues, presale restrictions, and ticket-purchasing limits. Violations can result in misdemeanor charges.

Data Centers And Electricity Bills

Data centers, which power artificial intelligence and other digital services, consumed about 4.4% of U.S. electricity in 2023, and could rise as high as 12% by 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Who exactly will pay for the infrastructure needed to meet the growing demand?

Gov. Newsom signed a total of seven data center bills Sept. 21, but three have a particular effect on Californian's wallets.

SB 886 requires state regulators to establish or update special electricity rates and connection rules for data centers by Jan. 1, 2028. These must ensure that data centers cover their share of costs, rather than shifting the burden to customers.

AB 2383 requires data centers to shoulder additional electricity generation and infrastructure costs that they require. It also includes safeguards like upfront payments and early termination fees.

SB 1168 directs the California Public Utilities Commission to examine electricity rate structures, so that data centers pay a reasonable share of costs. SB 1168 directs the commission to pay particular attention to the effect on low-income customers.

Heat Pump And HVAC Installation

Californians installing a heat pump currently need to navigate a labyrinth of permits, applications, inspections and fees. The Heat Pump Access Act aims to make the process more streamlined and affordable with several reforms. It also caps permit fees at $150 for heat pump water heaters, and $200 for heat pump heating and cooling systems, subject to exemptions. Finally, it institutes a number of phased changes.

By July 1, 2027, local governments will be required to offer inspections that don’t require the contractor and inspector to be present at the same time. By Jan. 1, 2028, the law would limit installations to one routine permit in the majority of cases. By July 1, 2028, most jurisdictions will be required to offer automated, real-time online permits for qualifying heat pumps.

Cryptocurrency Fraud Restitution

Tracking down stolen cryptocurrency funds can be extremely difficult for a variety of reasons: Scammers frequently combine stolen cryptocurrency from different victims, and prosecutors may be unable to obtain a criminal conviction because the scammers operate outside U.S. jurisdiction. Even when police are able to seize cryptocurrency, California lacks a comprehensive procedure for the forfeiture of those assets and distributing them to fraud victims. According to the California Attorney General’s Office, Californians reported more than $3.67 billion in cryptocurrency scam losses in 2025, the highest reported level in any state.

SB 1208, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2027, establishes a process allowing prosecutors to ask a court to forfeit seized cryptocurrency connected to criminal activity and distribute it to victims. The law also establishes procedures for people claiming ownership of seized assets to contest their forfeiture.

Victims can receive compensation up to the amount they lost.