5 New CA Laws That Gov. Gavin Newsom Signed This Month

CALIFORNIA — Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed two dozen bills recently approved by the legislature, including better accommodations for breastfeeding mothers, intervention teams to address chronic school absences and procedural changes for criminal DNA testing.

Here are a few of the bills the governor signed into law:

• SB 949 - Superior Court - Lactation Accommodation
  • This bill modifies existing law, which requires the superior court to provide employees with a lactation room or other clean and safe location to do so, and to provide a reasonable break time to accommodate employees who need to breastfeed. The new law expands the requirements to cover any mother who is participating in an ongoing court proceeding, starting in July 2026, including a confidential process for requesting a break.
• AB 2271 - Pupil Attendance: Schoolsite Absence Intervention Teams
  • Starting in the 2026-27 school year, this bill mandates that the state Department of Education share information on its website about ways to reduce chronic absenteeism, including creating "schoolsite absence intervention teams" to improve school attendance.
• AB 2197 - Protect Our Coast and Oceans Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund
  • This bill relates to a voluntary contribution residents can make on their personal income tax returns, allowing taxpayers to donate money to the California Beach and Coastal Enhancement Account. The provision was set to expire in 2025, and the new law extends the option until 2032.
• SB 1190 - Mobile Homes: Solar Energy Systems
  • This bill makes it illegal for rental agreements at mobile home parks to prohibit tenants from installing a solar energy system, provided they meet health and safety standards. Violations can result in civil penalties.
• AB 2521 - Criminal Procedure: Confidentiality and DNA Testing
  • This bill makes procedural tweaks to DNA testing practices in murder and felony cases, including adjustments to certain confidentiality requirements and streamlining how parties agree on what laboratory performs the testing.

Of the 25 bills Newsom took up on July 18, the governor vetoed one measure related to water diversion and use in coastal watersheds during times of shortages or drought. The governor returned Assembly Bill 1272 without his signature, citing budgetary concerns.

• Related: Forced 'Outing' Of LGBTQ+ Students Banned In California

"While I support efforts to protect coastal watersheds from the extreme dry conditions exacerbated by climate change, this bill creates significant, ongoing costs in the millions of dollars that should be considered in the annual budget process," Newsom wrote in a veto message. "It is important to remain disciplined when considering bills with significant fiscal implications that are not included in the budget, such as this measure."

>> A full list of bills is available on the governor's website.