Newsom signs six bills protecting LGBTQ Californians

What Newsom signed

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Sept. 27, 2026, that he signed six bills backed as priorities by the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus. Newsom said the laws respond to federal actions targeting LGBTQ servicemembers and civilians, including the use of medical records.

The package limits the sharing of information about sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status. It also requires health care providers and institutions to notify the California attorney general when they receive a subpoena involving protected health care activity. The attorney general is authorized to respond and intervene.

Other provisions offer housing, employment and civilian-transition assistance to servicemembers discharged under President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender military service.

Health care and student support

The package updates California’s ban on conversion therapy after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down another state’s ban. California describes conversion therapy as a practice directed at LGBTQ young people that claims it can change sexual orientation or gender identity.

The laws also require public higher education institutions to make LGBTQ student resources available at satellite campuses. Separate provisions expand access to pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis, commonly called PrEP and PEP, which are medications used to prevent HIV.

Assemblymember Chris Ward, chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, said the legislation would protect LGBTQ Californians’ safety, dignity and freedom. The next steps include state agencies, public colleges and health care institutions putting the new requirements into practice.