In 2024, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed nearly a thousand bills, a series of new laws that impact the daily lives of the people in various areas including wages, housing, consumption, tax, education, justice, firearms, and more. Many of these new laws will officially take effect starting in 2025.
One of the most controversial education bills in California in 2024 was the AB1955 bill, which prohibits school staff from disclosing changes in student gender identity to parents without the student’s consent.
Despite significant public opposition, Newsom officially signed the AB1955 bill into law on July 15. A spokesperson for the governor’s office stated that this bill is aimed at “maintaining the relationship between children and parents.”
However, Emily Rae, a senior legal advisor at the Liberty Justice Center that has filed a lawsuit, pointed out, “Most PK-12 (pre-kindergarten to 12th grade) minors are too young to drive, vote, or sign treatment agreements for themselves, and therefore cannot make life-changing decisions regarding their expressed gender identity without their parents’ knowledge. However, this is what AB1955 allows, potentially causing devastating effects on young children who may not fully comprehend the consequences.”
The AB1955 bill is facing a series of legal challenges, but as of now, it is still set to take effect in January 2025.
Another highly anticipated education bill is the AB1825 bill. More and more parents have discovered explicit sexual and inappropriate material in public school classrooms and libraries in many areas, prompting parents to initiate a “resist and remove” movement.
However, the AB1825 bill, coming into effect in 2025, prohibits public libraries from excluding certain books based on race, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, or the theme, background, or political stance of the book.
The new AB2347 bill allows tenants facing eviction to respond to eviction notices within 10 working days, extending the time for tenants.
Starting from March 1, 2025, food delivery service companies under the AB375 bill must provide customers with the name and photo of the delivery driver.
The SB1395 bill makes it easier for municipalities to build small housing for the homeless.
Regarding traffic rules, as of January 1, 2025, parking within a 20-foot range of a pedestrian crosswalk is prohibited.
The SB1414 bill allows for severe charges to be brought against criminals soliciting prostitution from minors aged 16 and under.
The SB1242 bill considers arson in retail gang theft cases as an aggravating factor for sentencing.
Under the AB1775 bill, with city and county approval, marijuana retailers and lounges can sell non-marijuana food and beverages, including those prepared with fresh ingredients.
Starting next year, California’s minimum wage will rise to $16.5 per hour.
The SB988 bill increases protection for independent contractors on 1099 tax forms, requiring employers to pay wages by a contract-specified date or sooner.
The AB2499 bill expands the definition of paid sick leave. If an employee’s family member is facing domestic violence and threats, the employee can utilize their sick leave to assist the family in obtaining restraining orders or seeking services related to domestic violence. ◇