10 new California laws take effect today. See changes for drivers, schools & more
Several California laws take effect Wednesday, July 1.
The new laws cover a wide range of issues, from cellphone and restroom policies in schools to food labeling requirements and self-driving vehicles.
Here’s what to know about 10 new California laws — and how they could affect you:
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How will new gas tax, car law impact California drivers?
California drivers will see two notable changes beginning Wednesday, July 1.
Under Senate Bill 1, California’s gas tax will increase fuel costs by 2.2 cents per gallon, bringing the gasoline excise tax to 63.4 cents per gallon, up from 61.2 cents, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.
The diesel fuel tax will also increase by 1.6 cents, rising from 46.6 cents to 48.2 cents per gallon.
The annual adjustment is tied to inflation based on changes in the California Consumer Price Index to help fund road repairs and maintenance under legislation approved in 2017.
Another law taking effect Wednesday applies to self-driving cars operating on California roads.
Under Assembly Bill 1777, law enforcement agencies will be able to issue citations directly to manufacturers of autonomous vehicle for traffic violations committed by their vehicles.
The law also establishes additional safety requirements designed to address concerns over driverless car malfunctions and improve accountability.
How will new California laws change schools?
Under Assembly Bill 727, public schools serving grades seventh through 12th and California public colleges and universities must print the phone number and text line for The Trevor Project’s LGBTQ+ suicide prevention hotline on student ID cards, starting Wednesday, July 1.
The requirement builds on an existing law that already requires schools to include the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on student IDs.
How are student phone policies changing?
Starting Wednesday, July 1, Assembly Bill 3216, requires school districts, county offices of education and charter schools to adopt policies limiting or banning student cellphone use during the school day.
Schools must review and update those policies at least once every five years.
New California law requires all-gender bathrooms
Another new law, Senate Bill 760, requires every public and private school serving first through 12th grade to provide at least one all-gender restroom by July 1.
The restroom must be available to all students and clearly marked with signs indicating it can be used by anyone, regardless of gender.
It is also “to be maintained and cleaned regularly, fully operational, and stocked at all times with toilet paper, soap, and paper towels or functional hand dryers, and kept open during school hours when pupils are not in classes,” the law says.
What are new California rules for food labels, menus?
Assembly Bill 660 is designed to simplify food date labels and reduce confusion for shoppers.
The new law requires food manufacturers to use clear, standardized language for “quality” and “safety” dates — and eliminates “sell by” labels, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Starting Wednesday, July 1, most food sold in California — with the exceptions of eggs and infant formula — must include one of four approved labels.
Products must use either “best if used by” or “best if frozen by” to indicate quality, or “use by” or “use or freeze by” to indicate food safety.
While the law bans visible “sell by” dates for consumers, the California Department of Food and Agriculture said, retailers will still be allowed to use coded “sell by” dates for inventory purposes.
Meanwhile, another new law, Senate Bill 68, requires restaurant chains with 20 or more locations to clearly identify menu items that contain any of the nine major food allergens.
The information can be displayed directly on menus or provided through a digital format, making it easier for customers with food allergies to make informed choices.
Starting Wednesday, July 1, the nine allergens restaurants must disclose are:
- Milk
- Eggs
- Fish, including bass and cod
- Crustacean shellfish, including lobster and shrimp
- Tree nuts, including almonds and walnuts
- Wheat
- Peanuts
- Soybeans
- Sesame
More home construction near bus, train stations
Senate Bill 79, which takes effect Wednesday, July 1, is designed to encourage more housing construction near major bus and train stations.
The law allows housing projects on properties within one-half mile of certain transit stops, even if local zoning rules would prohibit them.
Lawmakers said the goal is to increase housing supply, help ease housing costs and encourage more people to use public transportation, which could reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Legal name changes get easier in California
Assembly Bill 1084 makes it easier for people seeking a legal name change to match their gender identity, starting Wednesday, July 1.
For individuals 18 and older, courts generally must approve a qualifying name change within six weeks without holding a hearing or allowing formal objections.
The same process applies for minors if all living parents agree to the name change. If not all parents consent, the court must issue an order explaining how the case will proceed.
Streaming services must lower volume of TV ads
Senate Bill 576 targets television commercials.
Starting July 1, video streaming services will no longer be allowed to play advertisements at a higher volume than the programs they accompany.
