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MONDAY, JANUARY 05-JANUARY 11, 2026
NO. 257
VOL. 15,
New California laws impact plastic bags, food delivery, tortilla ingredients
Arcadia councilman files rebuttal to recall effort
By City News Service
joet@beaconmedianews.com
H
undreds of bills signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom are set to take effect in California in 2026. The list of new laws, most of which take effect Thursday, include a minimum wage increase, a ban on plastic grocery bags and new ingredient for tortillas. Other new laws among the more than 800 laws passed last year address antisemitism in schools, low-cost insulin, and protections for consumers, workers and renters. “California is proving once again that progress isn’t something we talk about, it’s something we build,” Newsom said in a statement. “While some in Washington remain stuck debating yesterday’s problems, we’re focused on delivering real solutions for today’s families. These new laws reflect who we are: a state that protects workers, respects students, puts people before politics, and isn’t afraid to hold powerful interests accountable.” Detailed information about some laws taking effect in California in 2026 can be found at newsroom.courts. ca.gov/news/new-californialaws-going- effect-2026. Here is a sampling (laws take effect Jan. 1 unless otherwise noted): Minimum wage - SB 3. The minimum wage is set to increase to $16.90 per hour to account for inflation. The threshold for exempt workers will rise to $70,304 per year. Some local minimum wages, along with wages for fast food and health care industries, are higher. Tip theft - SB 648. The California Labor Commissioner can investigate, issue citations or file for civil action over tips that an employer takes from a worker. Tortillas - AB 1830. Most
By Joe Taglieri
I
The State Legislature is based at the State Capitol in Sacramento. | Photo courtesy of California Assembly Democrats/Facebook
store-bought corn tortillas and other corn masa products must be fortified with folic acid. The law was passed in 2024 to help prevent neural tube defects like spina bifida. Small businesses that make the products are exempt. Plastic bags - SB 1053. After phasing out plastic bags at retailers for nearly a decade, California now further tightens the previous law by completely eliminating single carry-out bags, including the thick kind that was widely considered reusable. Cat declawing - AB 867 bans cat owners from having their cats declawed. Immigration - AB 1261 requires the state to provide legal counsel to immigrant youths in federal or related state immigration proceedings. Juvenile justice - AB 651. Incarcerated parents
must be given the opportunity to be physically present at dependency hearings related to their child. If physical presence is waived, they can participate through videoconference or teleconference. Court procedure - AB 1524 will make public electronic records viewable at the court. People will be able to use their own equipment to copy court records for free, while the integrity of the record will still be protected. Artificial intelligence AB 316. A defendant may not say artificial intelligence that they developed, modified, or used that is alleged is to have caused harm to the plaintiff did so autonomously. Additionally, law enforcement agencies will need to identify when artificial intelligence See California laws Page 19
was used in official reports and the type of program they used (SB 524). State snake - SB 765 establishes the giant garter snake (Thamnophis gigas) as the official snake of California. Law enforcement identification - SB 805 requires law enforcement officers operating in California to display their agency and a name or badge number to the public, with some exceptions. Diwali holiday - AB 268 recognizes Diwali -- the Hindu festival of lights -- as an official state holiday. The law authorizes public schools and community colleges to close, while state employees could also take the day off. Diwali falls on Sunday, Nov. 8 in 2026, meaning the holiday
n response to a recall campaign calling for his ouster, Arcadia City Councilman David Fu defended the censure action he led against Mayor Sharon Kwan and questioned the motives of recall supporters. Fu filed this rebuttal to the recall Nov. 23, following the campaign’s launch earlier that month: “As your councilmember, my job is to do the right thing for Arcadia. In this case, the right thing was to reprimand unprofessional, dishonest behavior by the Mayor. That’s what a censure is: a reprimand for unacceptable conduct. “The public overwhelmingly supported the censure, as did every member of the council except the Mayor. “Because Arcadia deserves the best. “Now, a few people want to punish me for doing the right thing. “Honesty, principle, respect for law: these are the reasons why you chose me to represent you. That’s also why your police and firefighters endorsed my campaign, and oppose this recall. “This recall is a third fabricated attempt by a former councilmember who desperately wants to regain power. It’s a cynical effort to undo the results of a fair election just one year ago. Please watch the August 26 City Council meeting online and see for yourself. “This recall is nothing but lies and misrepresentation. The fake recall election will waste up to $250,000; enough to hire another police officer AND firefighter. “Arcadia is safe, our budget is balanced, and finally, our meetings are run efficiently and professionally. Help me continue to protect Arcadia. See Recall Page 19
Say no to recall,” Fu wrote. The former mayor and council member to whom Fu referred is April Verlato. In a mass email sent last week, Verlato challenged Fu’s assertions. “David Fu claims to have done the right thing. However, what he is accused of was acting inappropriate towards a colleague on City Council and then retaliating against her when she reported it,” Verlato wrote. “That’s not the right thing by anyone’s definition.” The recall’s draft petition is awaiting approval form the city and county to start collecting required 1,600-plus signatures within 90 days. Recall proponents say their effort stems from Fu’s alleged “pattern of retaliation, misuse of authority, fiscal recklessness, and disregard for the City Charter,” according to the campaign’s notice of intent. According to Verlato, Fu’s recall response avoided “responding to the subject of trying to remove the Mayor from her position and how that stance was in direct conflict with the City Charter.” Verlato also challenged the level of opposition to the recall that Fu mentioned in his formal response and alluded to former Mayor and Councilman Sho Tay’s alleged role in the censure effort. “He had to campaign for support and former councilmember Sho Tay had to post in all his WeChat rooms slanderous remarks about the Mayor in order to get the handful of people to come out and claim to want to remove Mayor Kwan,” Verlato wrote. “No one came to a council meeting or wrote an email demanding the removal of Mayor Kwan prior to Councilman David Fu