Insurance To Cover IVF, Legacy Admissions Banned: 5 New CA Laws

CALIFORNIA — Gov. Gavin Newsom had until Monday to sign off on or veto hundreds of bills approved by the Legislature.

New bills ban everything from legacy college admissions to harmful substances in menstrual products. They also provide more protections for renters and increase penalties for soliciting or buying sex from minors.

Last week, Newsom signed a suite of new bills that targeted phone use in schools, medical debt, AI/deepfake pornography, evictions and more.

Here's are five new bills the Democratic governor just signed.

1. California Insurance Companies Must Cover Fertility Treatments

SB 729 will require insurance companies to provide coverage for the diagnosis and treatment of fertility issues. In-vitro fertilization — commonly called IVF — must also be covered by insurance companies. Access will also be expanded to LGBTQ+ families.

"It's simple: everyone who wants to should be able to start a family — without going broke," Newsom said on Sunday.

IVF has become one of the latest points of contention in the political clash over reproductive rights. Earlier this year after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos created and stored for IVF are children, a decision that many feared could limit fertility treatments in the state and spur more implications nationwide.

"As Republicans across the country continue to claw back rights and block access to IVF – all while calling themselves ‘the party of families’ – we are proud to help every Californian make their own choices about the family they want," Newsom said.

2. Legacy And Donor Admissions Are Illegal At All Colleges

AB 1780 will ban private and nonprofit universities from admitting students based on wealth or personal relationships. This practice has long been banned from the state's public university systems.

Under the new law, all private colleges and universities will have to demonstrate their compliance by submitting an annual report.

"If we value diversity in higher education, we must level the playing field. That means making the college application process more fair and equitable," said the bill's author, Rep. Phil Ting (D-San Francisco). "Hard work, good grades and a well-rounded background should earn you a spot in the incoming class – not the size of the check your family can write or who you’re related to."

3. Some Renters Will See Good Rental History On Credit Scores

AB 2747 will allow many tenants to have good rental history reflected in their credit scores. However, this law will not extend this option to all renters as landlords who own 15 or fewer dwelling units are not required to offer this service — an exemption that has been deemed unfair by housing advocates.

Landlords will be able to charge tenants up to $10 per month for this service.

Newsom just signed a handful of bills that bring good news for renters — including one signed last week that extends the response time for evictions. SB 611 also prevents landlords from charging a fee if rent is paid by check.

4. Increased Penalties For Those Who Solicit, Buy Sex From Children

SB 1414, which was widely supported, toughens penalties for soliciting and buying sex from minors 16 and under or a minor under the age of 18 who is a victim of human trafficking. Now, the punishment will be raised from a misdemeanor to a felony.

The bill will offer more tools for prosecutors to charge a felony and it will bolster the amount of people who must register as a sex offender.

"Crimes against children have no place in California,” said first partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom.

5. CA Outlaws Toxic Chemicals In Menstrual Products

AB 2515 will ban the manufacturing, distribution and selling of menstrual products that contain PFAs, also known as "forever chemicals."

PFAs present harmful and toxic chemicals that can affect women's health. Such chemicals have been linked to kidney cancer, liver dysfunction, pregnancy complications, preeclampsia and increases in cholesterol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"This is a step in protecting women from PFAS in one of the most intimate ways that it can be exposed to our bodies," bill author Assemblymember Diane Papan (D-San Mateo) said earlier this year, according to the Los Angeles Times.

MORE LAWS SIGNED BY NEWSOM THIS WEEK

• Newsom Signs Law Banning Medical Debt From Credit Reports
• No More Plastic Bags At Grocery Stores Starting Jan. 1, 2026
• CA Schools Must Limit Or Ban Use Of Cell Phones Under New Law