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Expansion of cannabis cafes and outdoor drinking? Bank fees abolished? Want more protection for your credit score when facing medical debt? These are some of the nearly 1,000 new laws that will take effect in California starting the first day of 2025.
If that sounds like a lot, it could have been more. California lawmakers introduced nearly 5,000 bills in the most recent legislative session, which ends this fall, but nearly half died without receiving a single vote during the two-year legislative session.
Lawmakers passed a total of about 1,200 bills in 2024, with Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoing 200 of them. That is, in a nutshell, a bureaucratic funnel.
Most of these new laws are technical, amend previous laws, or are narrow in scope. But some impact many Californians, or are just plain interesting.
The Consumer Financial Protection Act, numerous education laws (including one to expand alcohol education written by a former lawmaker who was arrested for drunk driving), as well as laws banning local voter ID rules and requiring multiple days to vote. There is also a law that provides a grace period. Fight eviction. Paris Hilton also makes a cameo appearance.
CalMatters reporters discuss some of the notable laws that will go into effect on January 1st. Stay informed about changes that are important to you. And keep coming back as we add new law articles before 2024 heads off into the California sunset.
