It has to be less than 60 restaurants total in the chain nationwide. So I guess if they rebranded in groups of 59 units maybe they could get around it. But I don't see the franchisors ever letting that happen.
Higher prices mean more royalties for the franchisors. The franchisors have very few corporate operated stores in CA. Burger King, Carls, Arbys, Wendys, McDonalds, used to have bases of corporate stores in California but over the years they sold most/all of those stores off as part of refranchising programs. Carls and McDonalds still have a few corporate stores in CA but the others don't.
So the franchisors just sit back, collect royalties, and let the local franchisees deal with this CA law, the increase in prices that will result from it, angry customers, the staffing cuts they are making, etc. As long as units don't actually close this is a win for the franchisors who get the benefit of increased royalties from the higher revenue from the higher prices that will occur.
The consumer is the main loser again.
Also I heard Starbucks isn't covered under the law. They sell all the same things as these fast foods... whatever.