Not all of those laws will impact your day-to-day life. The establishment of a California State Auditor鈥檚 website that shows the status of its recommendations or new rules for candidate withdrawals during Primary Elections may not really change your 2025 (though maybe they will!).
We took a look at a few new laws that may, from new rules for active shooter drills in schools to how prosecutors charge theft-related crimes and changes to how you鈥檙e charged junk and overdraft fees.
Ending certain overdraft, junk fee changes
prohibits state-chartered banks from charging overdraft fees for customers who have insufficient funds in their bank accounts. The law goes into effect starting Jan. 1, 2025. While many Californians rely on federally-chartered banks for personal financial services, this law is a way for the state to manage banks within its regulatory authority.
Also starting in 2025, credit bureaus won鈥檛 be able to include medical debt on an individual鈥檚 credit score. Legislators passed last year, which established the new law. Medical expenses are a leading cause of debt and bankruptcy for Californians.
Jamie Court with Consumer Watchdog says both bills establish important consumer protections when it comes to banking.
鈥淭his is kind of creating the golden seal of approval from the Golden State to prevent consumers from being overcharged on their overdrafts and from being denied loans when they have medical debt that isn't necessarily their fault,鈥� Court said.
鈥� Laura Fitzgerald
Reduced barriers for cultural burns on ancestral lands
Tribes in California will be able to reach agreements with the state鈥檚 Secretary of Natural Resources to waive certain permitting and regulatory requirements for burning on their ancestral lands thanks to a new California law.
Indigenous communities throughout California have led cultural burns for millenia. The practice is key to boosting forest health and reducing wildfire risks. Bill Tripp, director of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy for the Karuk Tribe, said the new law is a big step for tribes toward maintaining tribal sovereignty over the practice.
鈥淲e really felt, in order for our people to be able to continue to maintain those cultural practices like they believe is their inherent responsibility, we really needed to take this a step further,鈥� Tripp said. 鈥淎nd establish an agreement structure between the tribe and the state for the tribe to govern the actions and activities.鈥�
Former state Senator Bill Dodd introduced the bill that became this law. He said streamlining the process for approving cultural burns will help in reducing the fuels in California forests that stoke large wildfires.
鈥淓very year you don't [burn] a certain area because, perhaps, some of this bureaucratic red tape, you'll have significant problems later,鈥� Dodd said.
鈥� Manola Secaira
Changes to driver鈥檚 license requirements on job postings聽
On Jan. 1, California employers will no longer be able to require job applicants to have a driver鈥檚 license unless the position explicitly requires driving.
The new rule, part of , also requires employers to evaluate whether alternative transportation methods 鈥� such as ride-hailing services, carpooling, biking, or walking 鈥� could reasonably fulfill job duties without additional time or cost to the employer.
Supporters of the law say it addresses longstanding inequities in hiring practices, particularly for individuals who don鈥檛 drive due to financial, personal, or logistical reasons. Supporters say the change is expected to open up job opportunities for those who rely on public transportation or cannot afford to own a vehicle.
The law applies to job postings, applications, and other materials statewide. Employers who include unnecessary driver鈥檚 license requirements may face legal consequences.
鈥� Tony Rodriguez
Expanded family leave support for small business employees
The California Civil Rights Department鈥檚 small employer has, among other things, guaranteed eligible employees certain types of job-protected leave.
will make the program permanent on Jan. 1, while also adding claims for violations of reproductive leave loss provisions to claims under the pilot program. The bill will affect small employers with between five and 19 employees.
A from the state鈥檚 Civil Rights Department defined a reproductive loss event as a miscarriage, stillbirth, failed adoption, failed surrogacy and unsuccessful assisted reproduction. Eligible employees include those who have worked for an employer for at least a month.
The department added that employers must provide eligible employees with at least five days of leave for a reproductive loss event.
Assembly member Rebecca Bauer-Kahan argued that the pilot program protects small businesses while maintaining labor rights.
鈥淭his program has been a proven meaningful resource for successfully mediating discrepancies between small businesses and their employees,鈥� she stated. 鈥淧eople are guaranteed their time off with the secureness of knowing that their job will be protected when they come back.鈥�
鈥� Gerardo Zavala
Restricting captive audience meetings in the workplace
California employers can no longer retaliate against employees who refuse to attend what鈥檚 called a captive audience meeting 鈥� that鈥檚 when an employer holds a mandatory meeting to talk about politics, religion or other topics unrelated to the work of the organization.
says employers can still speak about those topics at work, but they can鈥檛 force employees to listen. The law goes into effect on Jan. 1.
The law was mostly supported by unions and partially targets mandatory meetings aimed at talking employees out of union organizing.
A from the non-partisan Public Policy Institute of California showed that seven in 10 Californians approve of labor unions and one in three would like to see them have more influence than they currently do.
鈥� Megan Myscofski
Expanding what can be considered as sick time for farmworkers
California farmworkers will now be able to use sick time to take time off when environmental conditions make their work too hazardous as a new California law goes into effect on Jan. 1.
Those hazards could include extreme heat, flooding or days clouded by heavy wildfire smoke. Farmworkers can use sick time during these weather extremes when local or state governments have declared a state of emergency as a result of them.
State Senator Steve Padilla introduced the bill that became this law. He said it could help reduce fatalities and health issues caused by working in extreme environmental conditions.
鈥淚 think it's important that there's no ambiguity and it's very clear that the sick leave that they earn or are granted can be utilized when there is a local, state emergency dealing with environmental conditions that are really hazardous鈥� Padilla said.
Studies show agricultural workers face a far higher likelihood of heat-related death than other occupations. He said the law will help farmworkers avoid situations where they feel they must choose between being 鈥渃oncerned about their employment or concerned about their economic stability in their health.鈥�
鈥� Manola Secaira
Protecting educators and students from 鈥渇orced outing鈥� policies
The SAFETY Act, also known as , prohibits school districts, county offices of education, charter schools, state special schools and members of the governing boards from disclosing 鈥� or 鈥渇orcibly outing鈥� 鈥� a student鈥檚 sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression without their consent. The SAFETY Act positions California as the first state to explicitly prohibit policies that mandate the disclosure of a student's LGBTQ+ status.
While California law already safeguarded students from "forced outing" policies through and , starting Jan. 1, these protections will also shield educators from retaliation for respecting a student鈥檚 privacy.
Additionally, the law mandates that local educational spaces offer updated resources to families with LGBTQ+ students in grades 7-12. The California Department of Education maintains , which school districts must now share with the families they serve.
Author of the legislation and chair of the state鈥檚 LGBTQ caucus Assembly mMember Christopher Ward explained the need for such legislation, as parental notification requests were on the rise in the state.
鈥淔orced outing policies also have a measurable impact on the mental health of LGBTQ+ students, and have led to a rise in bullying, harassment, and discrimination,鈥� he said. A found that half of LGBTQ+ youth in the state have experienced discrimination based on their identity.
鈥淭his law does not limit a student's ability to discuss their gender identities with their own families in the manner they choose, nor does it prohibit a teacher from disclosing information when they feel it is appropriate or necessary,鈥� said Ward.
Locally, school boards in and had both passed parental notification policies in 2023. And that same year, the Chino Valley Unified School District in San Bernardino faced significant scrutiny after for violating a students' constitutional right to privacy.
Natalia Garcia, Assembly consultant for the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus, pointed to the data in Chino Valley following the passage of the parental notification policy.
鈥淎n increased amount of calls to the crisis hotline 鈥� nearly 1,500 of the total number of calls received within a few months' span afterwards were solely from those who identified as residents of Chino Valley,鈥� she said, adding that the SAFETY Act mitigates harm not only caused to youth, but also to the parents and school staff.
Starting Jan. 1, Garcia said all schools will have to change their school gender identity and sexual orientation disclosure policies to reflect the privacy rights outlined in the SAFETY Act.
鈥� Srishti Prabha
Regulating active shooter drills and high-intensity practices in schools
The Safe and Prepared Schools Act, or establishes guidelines for conducting active shooter and armed assailant drills in California schools 鈥� including the banning of high-intensity methods 鈥� to minimize potential trauma to students and staff.
This law amends the existing education code, which requires school districts and county offices of education to be responsible for a comprehensive school safety plan at each of its K-12 schools.
However, even though active shooter drills are not mandatory and are an unregulated component of school safety plans, the from the California State Auditor found that 93% of schools prepare for armed assailants with drills. And 42% of them use a multi-option response technique which includes but is not limited to escaping and engaging a shooter.
This bill became a priority issue for the education committee, chair and Assembly member Al Muratsuchi said, as more and more schools felt the need to implement active shooter drills on campus.
鈥淲e need to have statewide standards for these active shooter drills that are not only informed by the public safety needs, but also by our school psychologists,鈥� he said.
Assembly member Christopher Ward, author of the bill, confronted the fact that the absence of guidelines for active shooter drills had paved the way for aggressive tactics, such as a case in San Gabriel where a .
鈥淗istorically, these drills have varied widely with some being so severe they鈥檝e traumatized kids by using fake ammunition and simulations of active shooters on campus,鈥� he said. This is supported by experience anxiety, stress, and depression following the drill.
The new legislation mandates that the drills be age-appropriate and exclude the use of simulated gunfire, ensuring their content and execution align with the developmental needs of students. Under the act, schools will be required to notify parents in advance of these exercises.
The California Department of Education has to publish best practices for conducting active shooter and armed assailant drills by Jun. 15.
鈥� Srishti Prabha
Expanding time for state mental hospitals to release patients
California will have more of a buffer starting this year when it comes to releasing people from state mental hospitals.
The new law follows a violent crime that occurred in San Francisco鈥檚 Chinatown. In May, 61 year-old Fook Poy Lai he鈥檇 been fixated on for years.
Lai had been released from a state mental hospital a week beforehand, after a judge agreed his mental health condition was under control. He had been in prison for a previous violent offense.
The bill鈥檚 author, San Francisco Democrat Matt Haney, says officials didn鈥檛 have enough time to prepare a plan for the man鈥檚 release.
鈥淭here is an incredible amount of work that needs to be done when we release somebody in this situation to ensure the safety of the community and the safety of the individual 鈥� medication, housing, continued treatment,鈥� he said. 鈥淔ive days simply is not enough.鈥�
The new law would allow hospitals to take up to 30 days to release someone. It goes into effect on Jan. 1.
鈥� Kate Wolffe
Establishing the rare diseases advisory council
A new state law creates a rare disease advisory council, which will give people with rare diseases a seat at the table with California regulators and policy makers.
An estimated one in 10 Americans have a rare disease. A disease is rare if it affects fewer than 200-thousand people in the U.S.
The legislation was authored by Los Angeles democrat Rick Zbur, whose sister Jacqueline died of ALS.
鈥淧art of the reason I ran for office was because what I never really understood until my sister became ill was how broken our social safety net is for people that are living with illnesses,鈥� he said.
Zbur says his sister struggled getting affordable in-home help, and had to travel to Korea for treatment not approved in the U.S.
Zbur says, unlike more common diseases like cancer, it鈥檚 hard to build advocacy around rare diseases.
According to the bill, the council would be required, among other things: 鈥渢o publish on its web page publicly accessible resources on research, diagnosis, treatment, and education relating to rare diseases in California to foster recognition and access to treatment.鈥�
California now joins the 28 other states that have approved a council, but the law didn鈥檛 provide funding.
Now, Zbur is working to find money for the council and a home for it, maybe UCLA or UCSF. He says that will be one of his focuses this Legislative season.
鈥� Kate Wolffe
Expanded notices to combat human trafficking聽
A new California law to combat human trafficking will take effect on Jan. 1. 鈥� authored by Assembly member Laurie Davies 鈥� aims to combat human trafficking by requiring resources and support notices to be shared through primary ticket retailers like SeatGeek or Ticketmaster when purchasing tickets. It will require the same warnings be posted at transportation hubs such as airports and train stations. These notices will inform victims about their rights and direct them to support resources.
The law applies to businesses like ticket sellers, airports, train stations, and major venues hosting concerts, sports games, and other significant events. Notices must be displayed in English, Spanish, and each county's most commonly spoken language.
Advocates argue these locations can be hotspots for trafficking, particularly during significant events, where traffickers tend to target vulnerable individuals.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got the Super Bowl coming [to California] in 2027, the Summer Olympics in 2028. So the focus of this bill was, you know, on these large venues for people buying tickets to these sorts of events,鈥� Jonathan Raven of the California District Attorneys Association said.
Raven also highlighted the importance of multilingual notices for victims who may not speak English and might be hesitant to seek help.
鈥淭hose individuals tend to be the most vulnerable. They might otherwise be reluctant or afraid to contact law enforcement because they鈥檙e worried about their immigration status,鈥� he added.
鈥� Tony Rodriguez
Increased penalties for retail theft, drug charges
Democrats and Republicans alike felt pressure this year to pass tough-on-crime legislation, and as a result, California has ten new laws to stiffen penalties for retail theft and drug-related crimes which go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
makes it easier to aggregate similar crimes in charges. makes it possible to combine them across jurisdictions. makes it a crime to enter a vehicle, even if it鈥檚 unlocked. Third-party sellers on websites like Amazon will also have new verification requirements, per .
Democrats proposed many of the new crime laws after made it to the ballot. That strengthened penalties for drug and theft-related crimes and increased treatment requirements. It passed in November with about 70% of California voters supporting it.
鈥� Megan Myscofski
Loosened requirements for charging theft offenses
Starting on Jan. 1, district attorneys across California will be allowed to consolidate specified theft charges 鈥� as well as associated offenses 鈥� that occurred in different counties into a single trial.
Existing law states that the jurisdiction for prosecution of theft and receiving stolen property includes the county where the offense occurred, the county where the merchandise was recovered and the county where any act was done in instigating or aiding in the commission of the crimes. It also limits the prosecution of each of the above to criminal actions brought by the Attorney General.
will no longer limit the jurisdictional rules, allowing district attorneys in any of the counties involved to bring a criminal action subject to a hearing on consolidation of the offenses.
, a nonprofit organization advocating for people directly impacted by incarceration, argued that the bill would give prosecutors too much power.
鈥淭hrough this bill, prosecutors would be able to leverage plea deals by aggregating the value of alleged petty theft cases and charging 'all associated offenses' that they allege to have occurred in other county jurisdictions, as well as their own,鈥� the organization argued in an opposition statement to the bill.
The organization noted that the bill would also allow prosecutors in counties where offenses did not occur to charge defendants in other counties, even if the prosecutor in that county already determined that charges were not appropriate.
鈥淕iving local prosecutors the final say over charging decisions makes sense, both because a local prosecutor can consistently determine what charges (if any) are appropriate, and because forcing victims, witnesses, and defendants to travel out of county can threaten their employment and ability to care for their families," the organization added.
Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko sponsored the bill and argued that it is important in dealing with 鈥渙rganized retail theft,鈥� which he said is 鈥渁 significant and escalating problem for business owners.鈥�
鈥淢any organized retail theft crews operate across county lines, a strategy that makes successful prosecution of the perpetrators more difficult and thus render the crimes more profitable,鈥� he stated in an argument in support of the bill.
鈥擥erardo Zavala
Establishing 鈥渞etail restraining orders鈥�
AB3029, co-authored by Assembly member Marc Berman and Speaker of the state Assembly Robert Rivas, is a first-of-its-kind law labeled a 鈥淩etail Restraining Order.鈥� It goes into effect on Jan. 1.
This law will allow retail store owners to seek restraining orders upon conviction against people who steal, vandalize, or are convicted of battery against an employee working at the store.
The law would prohibit the convicted person from entering the store鈥檚 parking lot, the store itself, and any other franchises or chain locations. Violation of these prohibitions could result in a misdemeanor charge.
According to the , retail theft increased in 11 of California鈥檚 15 most populous counties in 2023, including almost 70% in Sacramento, 65% in Alameda, 41% in San Mateo, and 40% in Los Angeles.
鈥� Keyshawn Davis
Ending the 鈥渓ocked door loophole鈥� for car break-ins
This law, SB 905, authored by Califorina State Senator Scott Weiner, will remove the 鈥渓ocked door loophole鈥� in California, which requires prosecutors to prove that car owners' doors were locked when a burglary occurred.
Instead, starting on Jan. 1, signs of forced entry of a vehicle, such as broken windows or doors, can prove a crime was committed. The law will also make forcibly entering a vehicle with the intent to steal or commit a crime punishable by imprisonment in a county jail for up to three years.
It will also allow prosecutors to combine the value of other stolen property by the person from multiple vehicles within the past 2 years. The law will make the crime punishable by a misdemeanor or felony.
According to the theft of car accessories across the state fell by 19.4% in 2023. The rate is 52% higher than in 2019.
鈥� Keyshawn Davis
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