AB 2563: California Sex Discrimination Law Covers Gender Stereotypes From January 1, 2027
What changed
AB 2563 (Chapter 952, Statutes of 2026) requires every California law that bans discrimination based on sex or gender to be read as banning sex discrimination as the bill defines it, including discrimination based on degree of conformity to sex or gender stereotypes. It adds that definition to "sex" in both the Fair Employment and Housing Act and the Unruh Civil Rights Act. It takes effect January 1, 2027.
Who it applies to
California employers covered by the Fair Employment and Housing Act, and businesses covered by the Unruh Civil Rights Act.
Key dates
- Effective date:
- January 1, 2027
Expanded statutory definition of sex discrimination takes effect under FEHA and the Unruh Civil Rights Act.
What employers may need to do
- Update anti-discrimination policies and training so they cover discrimination based on conformity to sex or gender stereotypes, effective January 1, 2027.
Official source
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2563Detected by RegWatch monitoring on October 1, 2026. Always confirm details against the official source above — this page is a summary, not legal advice.
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