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Get up to speed fast on these new California laws taking effect in 2025
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Illustration by Adriana Heldiz/CalMatters
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iStock
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Cannabis cafes and expanded outdoor drinking? An end to a banking fee? More protections for your credit score if you face medical debt? These are among the roughly 1,000 new laws hitting California starting the first day of 2025.
If that sounds like a lot, it could have been much more: California lawmakers introduced nearly 5,000 bills in the most recent legislative session ending this fall, a two-year period that saw nearly half die without a single vote.
In all, lawmakers passed about 1,200 bills in 2024 and Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed 200 of those. And that’s the bureaucratic funnel in a nutshell.
Most of these incoming laws are technical, fix previous laws or are narrow in scope. But there are some that affect lots of Californians, or are just plain interesting.
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An ACLU report looks at widespread use of force in immigration enforcement in the first year of President Trump's return to office. -
City Council members were concerned over how much it would cost for Irvine, which has a growing deficit. -
Some Democrats are leery about stifling business if Californians are allowed to sue corporations over monopolization
There are the consumer finance protection laws, numerous education-related laws — including one to expand alcohol education that was written by a former lawmaker arrested for a DUI — as well as a law banning local voter ID rules and another granting a few more days to fight an eviction. Paris Hilton makes a cameo, too.
CalMatters reporters describe some of the noteworthy laws taking effect Jan. 1. Dive in to stay informed about the changes that matter to you — and keep coming back as we add more stories about new laws before 2024 rides off into the California sunset.
- Cannabis cafes and entertainment zones among new laws for 2025
- A new California law bans your boss from ordering you to attend anti-union meetings
- Troubled California teens gain protections under a new law championed by Paris Hilton
- California’s lemon law is changing and car buyers have fewer protections in the new year
- New law could help tenants facing eviction stay in their homes
- California bans schools from forcing teachers to ‘out’ LGBTQ students
- New California voter ID ban puts conservative cities at odds with state
- California limits junk fees: New law blocks fines for declined ATM withdrawals
- Most medical debt can no longer hurt your credit score under new California law
- California stiffened penalties for theft — and more changes are coming
- Emergency room workers are facing more attacks. A new California law increases penalties
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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