California– As the new year approaches, California is set to implement a wide array of new laws addressing issues from housing and healthcare to gun regulations and public spaces. Here’s an overview of the notable changes:
Housing
Starting next year, local agencies must approve or deny duplex and lot-splitting applications within 60 days. If an application is denied, agencies must provide a list of required corrections. Applications can no longer be rejected solely due to concerns about “specific, adverse impacts on the physical environment,” according to a government bill analysis.
Gun Laws
- Beginning in 2025, private firearm sales processed through dealers will no longer be exempt from the rule limiting buyers to one handgun purchase every 30 days.
- Firearms dealers are now mandated to provide gun buyers with a state-issued pamphlet detailing the risks and responsibilities of firearm ownership.
Labor Protections
- Employees can take time off to assist family members who are victims of violence, using sick leave to cover their absence.
- Employers can no longer require workers to use vacation time before taking paid family leave.
- Under a law passed in 2019 but effective now, the Employment Development Department must offer applications for family temporary disability insurance in languages widely spoken by non-English speakers.
Healthcare
- Credit reporting agencies are banned from including medical debt on consumer credit reports. Any medical debt reported to such agencies will be considered void.
Education
- Public library governing boards are prohibited from banning books based on their topics or viewpoints.
- Starting in 2026, libraries receiving state funding must establish written policies for adding or removing books, along with a process for the public to request reconsideration of specific titles.
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Miscellaneous Changes
- Social Media: Platforms operating in California must have systems to report, remove, and block child sexual abuse material and any duplicates.
- Elections: Candidates are prohibited from running for more than one office during a primary election, clarifying a law previously subject to misinterpretation.
- State Symbols: California will add three new official state symbols:
- State slug: Banana slug (Ariolimax)
- State crustacean: Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister)
- State seashell: Black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii)
Public Spaces and Cannabis
- Local governments can now designate “entertainment zones” where alcohol consumption is allowed on streets and sidewalks during specified times. This expands a successful pilot program previously conducted in San Francisco.
- Cannabis retailers may sell non-cannabis food and beverages and host concerts or performances, pending local government approval and licensing.
These changes reflect California’s ongoing efforts to address a variety of social, economic, and environmental issues while also modernizing certain laws to meet current needs.
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