Every year hundreds of new California laws take effect Jan. 1. Many of them won't have much effect on your daily life. Here's a closer look at some that might in 2018.
To learn more about a law, click its title. More stories will be added throughout the month.
AB 1008: "Ban the box"
Passed in 2017. Introduced by Asm. Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento). Read bill text
Prohibits employers from inquiring about or considering a job applicant's criminal record prior to a conditional offer of employment.
Passed in 2017. Introduced by Asm. Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton). Read bill text
Prohibits employers from asking job applicants for previous salary history.
Passed in 2016. Introduced by Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco)*. Read bill text
Raises minimum wage from $10.50 to $11/hour for employees of businesses with 26+ employees and from $10 to $10.50 for employees of businesses with 25 or fewer employees
Proposition 64: Marijuana Legalization
Passed in 2016. Read bill text
Under California's legalization of recreational marijuana approved by voters in 2016, adults 21 and older can buy marijuana for recreational use from a licensed dispensary starting Jan. 1, 2018. The state is now issuing commercial licenses for cannabis cultivation, manufacture, testing labs, distribution and retail sale.
SB 65: Marijuana — Ingesting while driving
Passed in 2017. Introduced by Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo). Read bill text
Bans smoking or ingesting marijuana while driving or riding in a car, just like alcohol.
SB 250: School lunch "shaming"
Passed in 2017. Introduced by Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys). Read bill text
Requires schools to make meals available to needy kids, even if their fees have not been paid.
Passed in 2017. Introduced by Asm. Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Woodland). Read bill text
Makes parents who are taking English as a Second Language, GED and High School Equivalency classes eligible for subsidized child care.
Passed in 2016. Introduced by Asm. Jimmy Gomez (D-Los Angeles). Read bill text
Increases the level and duration of benefits provided in the Paid Family Leave (PFL) and State Disability (SDI) insurance programs.
SB 63: Job-protected family leave
Passed in 2017. Introduced by Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara). Read bill text
Expands job-protected new parent leave to workers at businesses with 20+ employees (previously was 50+).
Passed in 2017. Introduced by Asm. Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens). Read bill text
Requires schools serving students in grades 6-12 with at least 40 percent of students living in poverty to stock bathrooms with tampons and other feminine hygiene products.
SB 27: Livestock — Use of antimicrobial drugs
Passed in 2015. Introduced by Sen. Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo). Read bill text
Prohibits routine use of antibiotics on livestock in California. Livestock managers can only use antibiotics if they’ve got a prescription from a veterinarian.
State Budget: Dental benefits for Medi-Cal
Passed in 2017.
The 2017-18 state budget restores full dental benefits to adult Medi-Cal patients effective January 1, 2018.
AB 1127: Diaper changing stations
Passed in 2017. Introduced by Asm. Ian Calderon (D-Whittier). Read bill text
Requires that at least one restroom diaper changing station be accessible to both women and men in newly-constructed or renovated state and local government buildings, large retail and entertainment venues, and restaurants that hold at least 60 people.
SB 219: "LGBT Seniors Bill of Rights"
Passed in 2017. Introduced by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). Read bill text
Gives legal protections to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender seniors living in long-term care facilities.
Passed in 2017. Introduced by Sen. Josh Newman (D-Los Angeles). Read bill text
Requires residential swimming pools to adhere to new safety standards and additional inspections.
Proposition 63: Guns — Ammunition sales
Passed in 2016. Read bill text
Regulates ammunition sales and transfers by requiring they be conducted through a licensed ammunition vendor; bans importing ammunition bought outside California without first shipping it to a licensed vendor
Passed in 2017. Introduced by Asm. Mike Gipson (D-Carson). Read bill text
Applies an existing statewide ban on openly-carrying long guns to unincorporated areas
Passed in 2017. Introduced by Asm. Reginald Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles). Read bill text
Prevents those convicted of hate crimes from owning a firearm for 10 years
Passed in 2017. Introduced by Asm. Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento). Read bill text
Bans firearms on school grounds, removing the ability of school officials to grant exemptions
AB 390: Pedestrian crossing signals
Passed in 2017. Introduced by Asm. Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles). Read bill text
Allows pedestrian to enter crosswalk after "DON'T WALK" sign begins flashing if there's a countdown timer, and if pedestrian completes crossing in time. Previously, it was a crime to even enter a crosswalk when "DON'T WALK" is flashing.
AB 41: Rape kits — Rules for law enforcement
Passed in 2017. Introduced by Asm. David Chiu (D-San Francisco). Read bill text
Requires law enforcement agencies to count, preserve and report on the reasons for unprocessed rape kits.
AB 1312: Rape kits — Survivors' rights
Passed in 2017. Introduced by Asm. Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego). Read bill text
Expands survivors' rights to notice about the location and status of their rape kits, and prevents the destruction of rape kits for at least 20 years.
AB 295: Sky diving
Passed in 2017. Introduced by Asm. Susan Talamantes Eggman (D-Stockton). Read bill text
Requires sky diving centers to ensure instructors are certified, after the deaths of a young man and his skydiving instructor last year.
Correction: A previous of this description incorrectly said the law would ban sky diving while intoxicated. This is already illegal under California law.
Passed in 2017. Introduced by Sen. Jim Beall (D-San Jose). Read bill text
The same law that raised gas and diesel taxes effective Nov. 1 also raises vehicle fees for drivers registering (or renewing registrations for) their vehicles starting Jan. 1.
