The Golden State rings in 2024 with these new laws (and more):
Tax Increase for higher wage earners
California has a short-term disability program that pays people who cannot work because of a non-work related illness, injury or pregnancy. The program is funded by a 1.1% tax on wages. In the past, this tax only applied to wages below a certain amount, about $153,000 in 2023. But starting Jan. 1, a new law, which was passed in 2022 but takes effect this year, eliminates the wage cap. People who make more than $153,000 per year subsequently will pay a 1.1% tax on those wages.
Protections for abortion pills
Abortion is now illegal in 14 states after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. But doctors and pharmacists in California who mail abortion pills to patients in those states will be shielded from prosecution or fines. The law bans bounty hunters or bail agents from apprehending California doctors and taking them to another state to stand trial. It even prohibits state-based social media companies, such as Facebook, from complying with out-of-state subpoenas, warrants or other requests for records to discover the identity of patients seeking abortion pills.
More sick leave
Workers in California will receive a minimum of five days of sick leave annually, instead of three, which they will accrue once they have been employed for 200 days. Labor advocates say the increase will curb the spread of disease by preventing employees from working when they are sick. But opponents say the law will be another financial burden for employers and claim some workers request sick leave when they are not ill.
Cannabis laws for workers
State lawmakers passed a bill that stops companies from punishing workers who fail drug tests that detect whether a person has used marijuana at all in recent days. The tests relied on urine or hair samples and looked for a substance that can remain in a person's body for weeks after use.
Unions for legislative staffers
With AB1 Newsom signed off on allowing legislative staffers to form unions. The law will allow regular staffers to form and join unions but will not apply to lawmakers or appointed officers.
Minimum wage increase
The minimum wage for fast food workers was increased to $20 an hour starting in April. Newsom also signed a law to raise the minimum wage for healthcare workers. The new law will raise the minimum wage to $25 per hour over the next 10 years.
Child sex trafficking
SB 14 defines child sex trafficking as a serious felony. This would instill harsher penalties for such crimes and require repeat offenders to serve longer sentences.
Social media
AB 1394 will levy steep fines against social media platforms that fail to combat and remove content that depicts child sexual exploitation and abuse. The bill, hailed by child safety advocates, will institute fines from $1 million to $4 million per violation, starting in 2025.
Book bans
AB1078 prohibits public schools in California from banning any books based on gender and race topics.
Security deposits
AB12 is a housing bill that limits security deposits to one month's rent, down from the previous limit of two months. Advocates for the law said steep security deposits were another barrier to housing, effectively forcing prospective tenants to save an unreasonable amount of money to qualify for a place to live.
Business emissions
Large businesses in California are now required to disclose a wide range of emissions that are known to contribute to global warming. The law was lauded as the most sweeping mandate of its kind in the U.S. The law will bring more transparency about how big businesses contribute to climate change through direct and indirect means.
Conservatorship
Newsom signed an expansion of the state's conservatorship system, designed to allow local governments more leeway in forcibly detaining people who refuse treatment for mental illness and addiction issues. This was hailed as necessary to combat homelessness.
LGBTQ youth support
Foster families are now required to prove their ability to meet the health and safety needs of children regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.
Fentanyl distribution
Prison sentences for criminals convicted of dealing high amounts of fentanyl will increase.
Ebony Alerts
SB673 established the Ebony Alert, which will inform the public when a Black woman or child goes missing.
Gender-neutral toys
This new law going into effect in 2024 requires gender-neutral toy sections at large retail stores in California. This won't do away with the boys' or girls' sections, rather it adds a new section for similar toys to be put side-by-side along with toys that appeal to everyone.
State mushroom
AB 261 established the California golden chanterelle as the official state mushroom.
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