Several new California laws take effect July 1, bringing changes for residents and businesses in the Golden State.
The new laws raise minimum wages for some workers, standardize food labeling, require allergen disclosures at chain restaurants, and create new requirements for autonomous vehicles and ease zoning restrictions for housing development.
Here's a look at some of the new laws.
Higher Minimum Wages
The hourly minimum wage will increase for workers in some California cities, communities and industries beginning July 1.
Local minimum wages will increase for workers in Alameda ($17.76), Berkeley ($19.61), Emeryville ($20.34), Fremont ($18.05), Los Angeles ($18.42), Los Angeles County (unincorporated - $18.47), Malibu ($17.91), Milpitas ($18.50), Pasadena ($18.57), San Francisco ($19.61), and Santa Monica ($18.47).
Hotel and hospitality workers in Los Angeles, Santa Monica and Glendale will earn at least $25 an hour, while Long Beach hotel workers will receive $26.50 an hour beginning July 1.
Health care workers at large hospitals and other medical facilities will receive scheduled wage increases under a phased statewide law. Employees at large hospital systems and dialysis clinics will earn at least $25 an hour, while workers at smaller facilities, clinics and other covered providers will see tiered increases based on employer size and type.
Glock Ban
Assembly Bill 1127 prohibits licensed firearm dealers in California from selling certain semi-automatic pistols commonly referred to as "Glock-style" handguns that can be easily converted into an automatic weapon. The law is intended to reduce the risk of illegally converted weapons used in crimes by restricting the sale of firearms that can be readily altered.
Housing Near Transit
Senate Bill 79 expands opportunities to build housing near public transit. The major zoning law overrides restrictive local zoning laws to allow multi-family residential developments near public transit hubs.
Supporters say the measure aims to increase housing production and encourage transit-oriented development.
Streaming Ads
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.
Crisis Hotline Awareness
Assembly Bill 727 requires that ID cards for middle school, high school and college students include the phone number for The Trevor Project, a crisis and suicide prevention hotline for LGBTQ+ youth.
Suicide is the second leading cause of death among children, teens and young adults ages 10 through 34, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
LGBTQ+ youth are at higher suicide risk because of how they are mistreated and stigmatized in society, according to The Trevor Project.
Restrictions On Smartphones In Schools
Assembly Bill 3216 requires school districts, county offices of education and charter schools to adopt policies prohibiting or limiting student smartphone use during the school day. Supporters say the measure aims to reduce classroom distractions and improve student learning and well-being.
All-Gender Restrooms
Senate Bill 760 requires that all California school campuses serving "any combination" of grades 1-12 have at least one gender-neutral bathroom.
The law mandates that signs must be posted to identify the designated bathroom as being open to all genders and available to all students. Use of an all-gender restroom by a student is voluntary and not required, according to the law.
Autonomous Vehicles
Assembly Bill 1777 updates the state's rules for autonomous vehicles. Under the new law, law enforcement agencies can issue "noncompliance" reports, also known as tickets, to the DMV, which advocates said would address leaders' regulatory concerns.
Previously, tickets could only be issued to a "driver" if the vehicle violated traffic laws. California police can now issue a "notice of noncompliance" to the vehicle's manufacturer.
Rural Maternity Care
Senate Bill 669 creates a 10-year pilot program allowing up to five rural critical access hospitals to provide standby perinatal services. The program is designed to improve access to maternity care in rural areas.
Standardized Food Labels
Assembly Bill 660 seeks to standardize date labels on packaged food sold in the state.
The bill 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.
Food Allergens In Menu Items
Senate Bill 68 mandates large restaurant chains to disclose the most common food allergens to customers. The new law applies to chains with 20 or more locations nationwide. The law covers nine allergens, including milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans and sesame.
With SB 68, California became the first state in the country to require large chains to disclose major food allergens on menus.
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