4 New CA Laws Will Affect Your Wallet In July

A series of new laws taking effect July 1 are expected to save Californians money by tackling everything from advertising and food label confusion blamed for widespread waste to mandatory insurance coverage for infertility treatments.

Specifically, four new laws will impact expenses for California residents.

'Best By' Dates

Consumers may notice changes at grocery stores under Assembly Bill 660, which standardizes date labels on packaged foods across the state.

The bill, authored by Rep. Jacqui Irwin (D-Encino), aims to reduce food waste by standardizing the use of "best if used by" and "use by" and prohibiting confusing labels with dates that have nothing to do with the food's quality. Those labels will be replaced with terms such as "best if used by" to indicate product quality and "use by" for food safety.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a "sell by" date is not a safety date. It merely tells the store how long to display the product for sale for inventory management.

"Having to wonder whether our food is still good is an issue that we all have struggled with," Irwin said when the bill was signed into law in 2024. "Today's signing of AB 660 is a monumental step to keep money in the pockets of consumers while helping the environment and the planet."

Food Allergens In Menu Items

Dining out could also look different under Senate Bill 68, which requires restaurant chains with 20 or more locations nationwide to disclose major food allergens in menu items. The law covers nine allergens, including milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans and sesame.

California became the first state in the country to require large restaurant chains to disclose major food allergens on menus, according to Sen. Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley), who authored the bill.

"I know the 4 million Californians with food allergies, and their families, will enjoy the increased peace of mind as they dine together at these qualifying restaurants," Menjivar said when the bill was signed into law in 2025.

Loud Commercials

Another consumer-focused law, Senate Bill 576, prohibits streaming platforms, such as Hulu and Paramount, from airing commercials at volumes significantly louder than the shows or movies being watched. The law applies standards similar to those already required for television and cable advertising.

"We heard Californians loud and clear, and what's clear is that they don't want commercials at a volume any louder than the level at which they were previously enjoying a program," Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement when the bill was signed into law in 2025.

IVF Insurance Coverage

Finally, portions of, SB 729 passed in 2024 go into effect this year, requiring large employers with at least 100 employees to offer health insurance that covers fertility treatments, including IVF. The treatment can cost tens of thousands of dollars out-of-pocket, making it impossible to start a family for many middle and lower income Californians struggling with infertility.

The expanded health insurance would include three egg retrievals and unlimited embryo transfers

State Senator Caroline Menjivar (D-San Fernando Valley) authored the legislation.

"Not only are we expanding coverage under large group health insurance, we are also proving California’s commitment to reproductive justice by ensuring LGBTQ+ folks and unpartnered individuals are no longer denied coverage under the former discriminatory definition of infertility," she said. "I know the journey to parenthood has many hurdles to clear, but I am emotional to see that my bill will remove at least one huge obstacle for those aspiring parents under qualifying plans.”

This law has taken effect at intervals, and health care benefit contracts under CalPERS are not required to comply until July 1, 2027, according to Menjivar's office. All individuals are encouraged to check with their health plans directly to confirm benefits and to learn how to access those benefits.