These laws will come into effect from January 1st in the state of California in the United States

Several laws will be implemented in California covering important areas of society and the economy. As of next January 1, new rights and privileges will appear for its residents. Here we tell you what the new regulations are about and how they will change life in the American West.

In terms of employment, the minimum wage will increase to $16.00 per hour starting in 2024. Here we summarize some of the rules regarding wages in that state.

AB 1228: The minimum wage for fast food workers will increase to $20.00 per hour starting in April.

SB 525: Raise the minimum wage for healthcare workers to $23.00 per hour in June 2024.

Other laws that will come into effect in a few days are:

SB 616: Increase sick pay for all full- and part-time workers in California from three days to a minimum of five paid sick days per year.

AB 1136: Establishing a retirement fund for mixed martial arts fighters in California. Those with at least 39 fights will be eligible for retirement benefits starting at age 50.

August 1740: Requires child care centers and other businesses that provide child care to post information about human trafficking and slavery.

AB 2188: An employer would not be permitted to discriminate or penalize an employee for cannabis use outside of work.

Changes in residential area

Father 12: The new law limits the amount landlords can charge for just one month's security deposit.

SB 4: Removes regulatory barriers to allow churches, religious organizations, and nonprofit universities to build affordable housing on their land.

SB 567: Amends the state's “no-fault-justice” eviction law to make it more difficult for a landlord to evict a tenant.

SB 712: Tenants may store scooters and bicycles in their apartment, as long as the battery meets certain safety standards.

Traffic Rules

AB 436: Prevents cities and counties from adopting ordinances prohibiting driving on city streets or driving vehicles modified to be of a certain height.

August 1909: As of January 1, cyclists are allowed to cross the street when the pedestrian signal is activated instead of waiting for the traffic light to turn green.

Food regulations

A B 899: It requires baby food manufacturers to test their products once a month for the presence of arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury.

AP 1200: Starting in 2024, cookware manufacturers will be required to disclose whether their nonstick products contain certain hazardous chemicals.

Internet

Proposition 24: It sets rules for the collection, retention and use of personal data, and allows consumers to prevent companies from selling or sharing their sensitive data.

AB 587: This law, passed in 2022, requires social media companies to disclose their policies on how they deal with hate speech and misinformation.

Educational process

AB 607: Requires California community colleges and California state universities to display the estimated cost of course materials and fees for their classes.

AB 2282: Tougher penalties for people who use hate symbols such as swastikas, nooses and profane crosses. It is also prohibited to use these symbols in schools, cemeteries, places of worship, workplaces, private property, and public places and facilities.

Changes in elections

AB 1539: Voting in an election in California and in an election in another state would be a misdemeanor if taken on the same date.

AB 421: It aims to clarify the language used in ballot measures proposing to change existing law.

Health services

SB 345: Provides legal protections for doctors and health care professionals who send abortion pills or gender confirmation treatments to patients in other states.

SB 385: Physician fellows in California are allowed to perform surgical abortions without the direct supervision of a physician.

The judicial system

AP 360: Coroners and medical examiners are prohibited from listing “excited delirium” as a cause of death.

SB 14: Toughening prison sentences for those found guilty of trafficking minors for the purposes of prostitution. It also imposes more severe penalties on those convicted of sex trafficking.

Immigration

SB 831: Authorizes the development of a program granting immigration parole to undocumented farmworkers. The program will grant undocumented workers work visas and protect them from deportation.