New California laws for 2025

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Hundreds of new laws will take effect on January 1 in California. Here are a few of them:

A new California law will prohibit state-chartered banks from charging fees for withdrawals that are instantaneously declined. Assembly Bill 2017 applies to banks and credit unions that are regulated by the state; Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it in September. Low-income groups were joined by others in saying penalties for insufficient funds were “junk fees” and said getting rid of them will protect financially vulnerable consumers.

A new law prohibits local governments from mandating voter identification, but Huntington Beach is fighting back. Under this state law that takes effect on Jan. 1, local governments across California will be prohibited from compelling voters to present identification to cast a ballot in an election.

New California law prevents schools from requiring staff to notify parents if a student identifies as LGBTQ. It’s in response to some districts requiring staff to notify parents when students identify as a gender other than what’s in their official files. The new law, AB 1955, came in response to a handful of school boards adopting policies that require teachers and other school staff to notify parents if a student identifies as a gender other than what’s on their school records.

Gov. Newsom and legislative Democrats pushed through a law that bans employers from requiring workers to attend ‘captive audience meetings.’ It was the latest victory for the labor movement at the state Capitol.

Voters said no to expanded rent control, but tenants facing evictions will have more time to fight to keep their homes under a new California law.

A majority of voters passed Proposition 36 in November, which toughens penalties for people repeatedly convicted of shoplifting and drug crimes. It aims to use the threat of jail as leverage to divert more people into behavioral health treatment. The popular new law went into effect on Wednesday.

Assembly Bill 2602 makes it illegal to use an AI-generated likeness of an actor’s image or voice without their permission. Assembly Bill 1836 also allows a deceased artist’s estate to collect damages when their artificial likeness is used without permission. The pair of bills seek to curb the growing use of AI in Hollywood, which was a sticking point for striking writers and performers last year.

With Assembly Bill 1780, the children of wealthy donors or alumni can no longer get special treatment in admissions decisions by colleges and universities in California, in a practice that disproportionately benefitted white and wealthy students.

Under Assembly Bill 2123, employers won’t be able to require employees to take two weeks of vacation before accessing California Paid Family Leave benefits.

Starting March 1, 2025, Assembly Bill 375 will require food delivery platforms like DoorDash and GrubHub to provide customers with the first name and photo of delivery drivers.

Assembly Bill 413 aims to protect pedestrians by outlawing parking within 20 feet of a marked or unmarked intersection. The idea, called “daylighting,” is to make pedestrians more visible and prevent collisions. The law, which can fine violators, is a response to California’s concerning uptick in traffic deaths.

Starting January 1, medical debt won’t be included on your credit report. The law does not forgive your debt, but it does keep it off your credit reports. Medical debt can hurt people’s credit scores and harm their chances of negotiating a loan or mortgage on favorable terms.

There is another new law that is supposed to make it easier for you to cancel your subscriptions. It requires companies to revise their automatic renewals to let you cancel using the same method you used to sign up for the service.

SB 1283 allows school boards to limit students’ ability to use social media while at school. Another state law requires social media platforms to establish and monitor a reporting mechanism for cyberbullying incidents. Platforms could be held civilly liable for not adequately monitoring and responding to cyberbullying reports.

People will no longer need a driver’s license while on the job hunt. Under the new law, employers can only require a license if driving is a required job function and can’t be replaced with an alternative form of transportation.

Child content creators operating independently or as part of their parents' or guardians' monetized content channels, will need to have a portion of the earnings set aside in a trust.

New legislation (AB 1978, AB 2186, AB 2807, AB 3085) targets illegal sideshow activities and street takeovers, which have raised safety concerns across the state. These laws empower law enforcement to impound vehicles involved in illegal street racing and exhibitions of speed, whether on public roads or in parking lots. AB 2807 clarifies the term “street takeover,” while AB 3085 expands the list of offenses eligible for vehicle impoundment.

AB 2536 broadens the definition of vehicle theft to include the theft of parts like catalytic converters, giving counties more flexibility to use registration fees in fighting vehicle-related crime.