SACRAMENTO, CA – In an unprecedented move that has left therapists both baffled and unemployed, California lawmakers have passed the Mandatory Happiness Act, requiring all residents to maintain a baseline level of joy or face consequences ranging from mandatory tickle sessions to public dance-offs. "We want the Golden State to live up to its name," said Assemblywoman Sunny Brightside, the bill's chief architect. "If you’re not smiling, you’re basically breaking the law."

The new law stipulates that each citizen must smile at least 17 times a day, spread evenly between 9 AM and 9 PM. Failure to meet the quota will result in a visit from the newly formed Department of Joy Enforcement, whose agents are trained in advanced tickling techniques and spontaneous conga line initiation. "I tried explaining to the agent that I was having a bad day," said local resident Carl Grump, "but then she started tickling me until I laughed. It was both humiliating and strangely therapeutic."

Businesses have also been affected, with mandatory "Happy Hour" sessions where employees must share their favorite jokes or kitten videos every hour on the hour. "At first, I thought it was dystopian," said barista Jenna Smiles, "but now I have the best arsenal of dad jokes and viral memes. Productivity has never been so cheerfully high."

Critics argue the law infringes on personal freedom and that forced happiness is an oxymoron, but supporters claim it’s a bold step toward a brighter future. As one cheerful advocate put it, "If you can’t beat the blues, just grin and bear it!" Meanwhile, California’s neighbors have reportedly started buying earplugs to cope with the sudden increase in spontaneous laughter and lighthearted dance moves at border crossings.