Press Release

Governor Newsom Signs Bill Enabling California to Rein in Monopoly Abuse and Promote Fair Competition

09. 30. 2026

Statement from Teri Olle, Vice President of Economic Security California Action, on Newsom signing the COMPETE Act (AB 1776)

SACRAMENTO –  Governor Gavin Newsom today signed the COMPETE Act (AB 1776) into law. The law updates California’s antitrust laws for the first time in more than a century, allowing the attorney general and district attorneys to sue a single dominant corporation for anticompetitive conduct. The bill, authored by Assembly Majority Leader Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, codifies recommendations from the California Law Revision Commission and closes loopholes that let dominant corporations rig the market against small businesses, workers, and California families. 

Teri Olle, Vice President of Economic Security California Action, issued the following statement:

“By signing the COMPETE Act into law today, Governor Newsom recognized what so many California families already know: monopoly abuse creates a lack of choices for consumers, drives up the prices of rent, groceries and healthcare, and locks out workers and small businesses from opportunities they deserve. 

Until today, California has been stuck enforcing an antitrust law written in 1907, one that never anticipated the modern economy or the tactics large corporations use to gain every advantage. In the century since, some of the most powerful corporations in the world have written their own rules enabling them to squeeze mom-and-pop businesses off main streets and forcing consumers to pay more for nearly every necessity. Today Governor Newsom sided with those who have said ‘enough is enough.’ 

Arriving here wasn’t easy. The wealthiest companies in California, along with their lobbyists at the Chamber of Commerce, spent millions fighting this bill so they could keep doing business as usual. Thankfully for the rest of us, the State Senate and Assembly, and a brilliant coalition of advocates, saw through the lies. And the governor did too. We thank Assembly Majority Leader Aguiar-Curry who carried this legislation and never blinked.”