The start of a new year means it’s time for a series of new state laws to take effect.
Addressing the just-concluded 2023-24 legislative session, the governor said: gavin newsome Chris Micheli, a veteran lobbyist in Sacramento, says he has signed 1,017 bills into law. This is more than a fifth of a tick 4,821 bills filed during that period..
Most of the new laws are scheduled to take effect on January 1st. From new parking rules to medical insurance and more, here’s a quick look at some of them.
cannabis cafe
San Diego County’s first cannabis cafe will open in National City this winter. More companies could soon join in, thanks to a new law allowing local jurisdictions to allow certain cannabis retailers to make and sell cannabis-free beverages and food products. law, Signed by the governor in late Septemberretailers can also host ticketed live events on-site.
The idea is to pave the way for Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes where people can use cannabis in the company of others, for example while enjoying coffee, sandwiches and live music. The new law “will allow cannabis retailers to diversify their operations and move away from the difficult and restrictive dispensary model,” said Rep. Matt Haney, a San Francisco Democrat who supported the effort in Congress. It is stated as follows. stated in a news release.
Newsom vetoed a similar bill in 2023, citing concerns from public health advocacy groups. The bill includes measures to reduce health risks, such as requiring employees to wear employer-provided masks and allowing local governments to mandate filtration and ventilation systems to prevent smoke from penetrating nearby buildings. Additional provisions were included that were intended to provide relief.
child content creator
Minors who earn money by creating online content should have additional financial protections, including: Two bills signed by the governor last year.
One is to expand the Coogan Act.A long-standing law in California requires parents to set up a trust and set aside at least 15% of their child actor’s gross income. The new rules would allow “child influencers,” or, as the bill describes it, “paid online content or influence on children on Internet websites, social networks, or social media” as part of their creative or artistic services. Expanded to include the Coogan Trust Account.
The other would extend these financial protections to children who appear in vlogs.
Democratic Sen. Steve Padilla of the South Bay said: Focus on the Coogan Act It targets children under contract, but not necessarily children who appear in their parents’ online content. This new law requires content creators to hold a percentage of their gross revenue in trust for the benefit of their children (to be accessible once they reach adulthood) if a minor appears in at least 30% of their content within one month. It is mandatory to secure it.
education
some education bills From rules protecting young people from policies that exclude them as LGBTQ+ against their will to rules requiring elementary schools to: Provide free sanitary products.
The legislation to protect LGBTQ+ students, proposed by Rep. Chris Ward, D-San Diego, would require school districts to pass policies requiring schools to notify parents if a child wishes to change their gender identity. is prohibited. This new law comes after several school districts in California passed such policies, raising concerns about student privacy and safety.
“Everyone has the right to come out in their own way,” said Ward, vice chair of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus.
The issue of parental notification is also still pending in California courts. In 2023, two teachers sued the Escondido Union School District to tell parents about their students’ transgender identities.
Other new laws cover what is taught in the classroom. Ensuring students receive instruction Describe exactly how California’s Native Americans were treated during the Gold Rush and Spanish colonization of California.
“Classroom teaching about the Mission and Gold Rush era does not include the loss of life, enslavement, starvation, disease, and violence inflicted on Native Californians at the time,” said the first San Bernardino Democrat. said Congressman James Ramos, a California Native. To serve in the legislature. “These omissions from the historical curriculum are misleading.”
Eviction notice
Soon, tenants will have even more time to respond to eviction notices.
California law originally stated that a landlord could not evict a tenant until they gave the tenant three days’ notice to pay, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. The tenant could then file a defense in court within five days of being served. Failure to do so could result in a judge entering a default judgment against the landlord.
new law doubles The 5-day period is reduced to 10 days.
Dealing with an eviction lawsuit is not always easy; Supporters of the new law argue — especially for those struggling to pay rent. Tenants must obtain difficult-to-obtain legal aid, expensive lawyers, and even find a way to go to court to successfully complete a defense application.
infertility treatment
Some insurance companies will be required to cover infertility treatments, including in vitro fertilization, in 2025.
This law does not take effect until Julya large group medical service plan covering up to three egg retrievals will be required. It also prohibits health service plans from imposing different conditions or coverage restrictions on fertility drugs or services.
Sen. Caroline Menjivar, D-San Fernando Valley; She said her bill would be signed into law. This is “a victory for many Californians who have been denied a path to starting a family due to financial barriers associated with infertility treatment, relationship status, or outright discrimination as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.” .
medical debt
medical debt Will no longer be shared with credit bureausThis means the debt won’t show up on your credit report.
That being said, medical debt still has to be paid. In an analysis of the bill, Sen. Monique Limón, D-Santa Barbara, noted that the new rules do not recognize medical debt or limit its recovery.
Rather, the new rules will “raise the credit scores of people who have inaccurate and unwarranted medical debt on their credit reports, opening up opportunities for them to access healthier financial products, better housing, and more job opportunities.” ” she said. ”
online subscription
new law it might get easier To opt out of annoying automatic subscription renewals.
Businesses must obtain “explicit affirmative consent” to automatically renew subscriptions entered into after July 1, 2025. Consumers must also receive annual reminders about automatic renewal, pricing, and information about how to cancel their services. .
Parking near the crosswalk
Starting Jan. 1, drivers across California will be prohibited from parking within 20 feet of intersections under a new state law aimed at saving lives by increasing visibility, but San Diego has no plans to do so. city officials said. We will begin issuing citations through March 1st.
From time to time, crews have been removing meters near intersections, painting curbs in the area red, posting “no parking” signs and trying to educate people about the new law, AB 413.
The education campaign is important because even without signs or red paint, people can still be ticketed under the law, but city officials say there is no hope they will be able to change all of San Diego’s 16,000 intersections in time. are.
“This is an important step toward improving safety on our city streets,” said Bethany Bezak, the city’s transportation director. “Together, we can prevent unnecessary crashes and save lives simply by changing how and where we park our cars.”
involuntary detention
San Diego County will begin implementing Senate Bill 43. The law, signed by Newsom in 2023, expands the state’s definition of “severe disability,” the standard for holding people against their will under Section 5150 of the State Welfare and Institutions Act. It is.
This means that rank-and-file law enforcement officers and other designated first responders can determine whether someone has a severe, moderate, or mild substance use disorder, and whether their medical condition is serious and likely to worsen. , which means you have to start determining whether your personal safety is so compromised that you are likely to die if you are not detained.
For the first time in the state’s history, first responders will not commit a crime if they have probable cause to believe a substance use disorder is involved or if they believe the person is living in an unsafe environment. Californians can be involuntarily detained. Behavior that appears dangerous or clearly not receiving necessary medical care.
Hospitals across the state balked at the idea of implementing SB 43 in 2024, pleading with county commissioners to delay implementation as much as possible. The law allows local governments to postpone the law until Jan. 1, 2026, but the San Diego County Board of Supervisors chose a midpoint, setting the start date for New Year’s Day 2025.
Youth in residential facilities
Residential treatment facilities that serve minors are required to report certain information to the child, his or her parent or guardian, and the California Department of Social Services when seclusion or restraint occurs.
Sen. Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), who sponsored the legislation, said these facilities would sequester or restrain patients if staff believe they may be a danger to themselves or others. It is said that this is recognized.
new law requires Children must be informed of their rights, including the right to contact state social services officials and the California Office of the Foster Care Ombudsperson, within one day of being placed in isolation or restraint. These minors will also be required to provide an oral and written explanation of the incident, including who authorized the disciplinary action and the rationale behind it.
That written information must be submitted to the Department of Human Services within seven days, and it is up to the state to review and determine whether any laws may have been violated by the seclusion or restraint. , therefore the investigation is justified.
Starting in 2026, the department will have to publish information about these cases so parents can have better information about where to send their children.
Efforts to increase transparency about what punishments are used in youth detention facilities were supported by media personality and activist Paris Hilton. who detailed the “continuous torture” she endured. While attending boarding school as a teenager. At the Hilton Other states defended similar laws. Related to what has been called the troubled teen industry Similarly at the federal level.
“For too long, these facilities have operated without proper oversight, putting vulnerable young people at risk,” Hilton said.
“After I was abused in a California facility as a teenager, it is right to see California take a stand to protect our youth. We hope this will set the standard for transparency and accountability in these facilities.”
San Diego Union-Tribune staff writers Paul Sisson, Kristen Taketa and David Garrick contributed to this report.
