New California Laws for 2026: Consumer Protections, Renters' Rights, and Insulin Costs

Consumer Protections for Car Buyers

• 🚗 Senate Bill 766 provides new protections for California car buyers, allowing returns of used cars within 3 days.
• 💡 Dealers must now disclose full costs upfront and cannot charge for unnecessary add-ons for electric vehicles.

Renter Protections and Housing Standards

• 🏠 A new law mandates that rental units must have a working stove and refrigerator to be considered suitable for tenants.
• ⚠️ This rule, however, will not apply to certain housing types, such as permanent supportive housing.

Environmental and Health Initiatives

• 🛍️ Following a ban on single-use plastic bags, stores will only offer recycled paper bags at checkout starting in January, with a minimum charge of 10 cents per bag.
• 💉 A significant cap is placed on the cost of insulin, limiting it to $35 for a 30-day supply for most individuals with state-regulated health plans.
• 💊 The law also eliminates deductibles on insulin prescriptions for many plans and bans