California's new laws: 2025 changes covered by Sacramento Bee

California implements new laws spanning a variety of public and private sectors. Articles focus on updates to school protocols, transportation, and personal freedoms. One piece discusses speed limits around California parks, where drivers must slow to 25 mph during specific hours if signs are posted.

Another article revealed 8 new laws that started July 1, including one that stated California students will have mental health resources added to their ID cards through Senate Bill 1063. A bill aims to combat hidden cleaning fee issues in vacation rentals with Assembly Bill 2202. Passengers in certain commercial vehicles may legally drink alcohol, but California bans open containers in standard vehicles under its revised rules.

Marchers celebrate after reaching the state Capitol in downtown Sacramento after a three-day walk from Vacaville in support of immigrant rights on Monday, June 9, 2025. By DANIEL HEUER

NO. 1: THESE 8 NEW CALIFORNIA LAWS GO INTO EFFECT TODAY. HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

From a health insurance update to new rules for bars and vacation rentals, here are some of the state laws now in place. | Published July 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Angela Rodriguez

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A “Welcome to California” sign on Highway 199, known as the Redwood Highway. By Sanghwan Kim

NO. 2: WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR BRINGING FRUITS AND VEGGIES INTO CALIFORNIA? WE ASKED A BORDER EXPERT

A reader asked Bee Curious about checkpoints designed to keep pests and diseases out of the Golden State. | Published February 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Camila Pedrosa

NO. 3: CALIFORNIA LAWMAKER INTRODUCES BILL TO DESIGNATE AN OFFICIAL STATE CRYPTID. WHICH IS IT?

Which famous cryptid could soon join the pantheon of California official state symbols? | Published February 19, 2025 | Read Full Story by Andrew Sheeler

Children run and play on the playground equipment Wednesday morning at the Highland Grange Park off South Union Street in Kennewick. The National Weather Service forecasts the first triple digit temperatures of the year on Sunday as the Pacific Northwest will swelter under a heat wave. By Bob Brawdy

NO. 4: IS THERE A SPEED LIMIT NEAR PARKS IN CALIFORNIA? CAN I GET A TICKET? SEE THE LAW

California law requires drivers to slow down near parks — but only during certain hours. | Published June 17, 2025 | Read Full Story by Angela Rodriguez

Police give more speeding tickets to Black, Hispanic, and AAPI rideshare drivers than white ones, data shows. Research shows that people of color are disproportionately targeted by police for violence and arrests. And Black drivers are 20% more likely to be pulled over by police than white drivers, according to one large study. Now, for the first time, a new research report published by Lyft found that rideshare drivers who self-identify as Asian and Pacific Islander, Hispanic, or Black were 24% to 33% more likely to receive a speeding ticket than white drivers, even when driving at the exact same speeds. The authors have the GPS data to back up their findings. As a result, this same combined group of rideshare drivers ended up paying 23% to 34% more in fines.

NO. 5: CAN YOU DRINK ALCOHOL WHILE SOMEONE ELSE DRIVES IN CALIFORNIA? WHAT LAW SAYS

In California, drinking while driving can result in thousands of dollars in fines, jail time and the loss of your license. | Published August 24, 2025 | Read Full Story by Dominique Williams

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Shot of a young woman lying in a bikini swimsuit on the sand on the beach near the ocean. By PeopleImages

NO. 6: CAN YOU GO TOPLESS AT CA BEACHES AND POOLS? WEAR A THONG BIKINI? KNOW THESE RULES

As temperatures climb across California, many residents are seeking out beaches and swimming pools to beat the heat. | Published August 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Angela Rodriguez

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.