By TR Robertson
Lawmakers were able to pass a number of laws in 2024 that took effect Jan. 1, 2025, for many and for some later in 2025. This is a look at some of the laws that are now in effect in California. An AB bill means the bill was generated in the Assembly and an SB law means the bill was generated in the Senate in California.
It is now considered a felony to possess over $950 of items obtained through retail theft with the intention of reselling (AB 2943). Breaking into vehicles to steal property valued at $950 or more with the intention to resell is now also considered a felony, punishable by up to three years in jail. This bill also allows law enforcement to stack the value of property stolen by criminals from different victims or in different counties in order to reach the felony grand theft threshold of $950. It also allows an officer with probable cause to arrest a person for shoplifting, even if the act did not take place in the officer’s presence.
AB 2111 prohibits a person from altering their license plate’s reflective coating to evade electronic capture of the license plate for any reason.
SB 905 removes a loophole that requires a vehicle’s doors to be locked in order to prosecute auto burglars. Forcible entry is now enough to prove the crime of auto burglary.
SB 690 extends the statute of limitations for prosecuting domestic violence upon a spouse or former spouse resulting in trauma to within 7 years of the crime.
AB 2106 – if a defendant is charged with a drug offense, courts are now required to order an available drug treatment or education program.
SB 960 requires Caltrans to incorporate complete street elements, such as bike lanes, sidewalks and transit facilities, into its planning and projects.
AB 363 bans the sale of over-the-counter sales of lawn and garden neonicotinoid pesticides, limiting their use to trained professionals.
AB 413 prohibits vehicles from being stopped, left or parked within 20 feet of a marked crosswalk or intersection. This safety measure is commonly referred to as “daylighting”.
AB 1780 prohibits private universities and colleges from making admissions decisions based on an applicant’s relationship to a donor or alumni. This law takes place in September.
AB 1825 tries to prevent book bans in public libraries by requiring them to set policies for book selections.
AB 2347 says tenants will have 10 days to respond to an unlawful detainer summons and complaint, doubling the previous 5-day deadline that has been in effect since 1971.
AB 1186 says minors can no longer be charged with restitution fines and any outstanding balances of these fines will be uncollectible and unenforceable 10 years after they were imposed.
SB 942 says the state will implement the CA Transparency Act which requires AI businesses to identify AI generated content. This law does not go in effect until Jan. 1, 2026.
Under SB 1323 courts are now allowed to make competency determinations based on written evaluations by licensed psychologists or psychiatrists. Additionally, courts may refer incompetent defendants charged with felonies to mental health diversion programs. Under SB 100, if a defendant is incompetent to stand trial in a misdemeanor case, the court must consider referral to diversion or other options and subsequent dismissal at certain timeframes.
Voters approved Proposition 36 which now enhances criminal penalties for repeat thieves and drug offenders, specifically requiring them to be charged with a felony on their third offense. It also includes Alexandra’s Law which requires the courts to give convicted fentanyl dealers the same warning given to those convicted of Driving Under the Influence: Do it again and someone dies, you may face murder charges.
AB 3209 allows courts to issue a “retail theft restraining order” prohibiting a person convicted of organized retail theft, vandalism, or assault of a retail employee from entering the establishment or other locations of the same establishment, for up to two years.
SB 1242 increases penalties for anyone who starts a fire while in the process of committing a retail theft.
AB 3206 extends the sale of alcohol until 4 am, but only in the 100 person VIP club of the LA Clippers new arena in Inglewood.
AB 1755 shortens the length of time used car owners have to file a lemon law lawsuit. Beginning April 1, it also requires them to notify the manufacturer in writing about car problems before filing a lawsuit for warranty violations.
AB 1775 legalizes cannabis cafes. Cities and counties could also allow businesses to expand themselves to sell non-cannabis and no-alcoholic products. Retailers will also be allowed to hold live performances.
AB 1815 prohibits hair discrimination in sports which expands the CROWN Act law that bans hair discrimination in schools and workplaces
.
SB 1089 requires grocery stores and pharmacies to provide workers and the community with at least 45 days’ notice if the store is closing.
SB 525 requires covered health care facilities that are county-owned, affiliated or operated to raise the minimum wage for health care workers
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SB 969 allows cities, counties or city and county ordinances to create “entertainment zones” that allow vendors to sell alcohol for consumption in those designated areas. That includes public streets, sidewalks or public rights-of-way.
AB 3216 requires school districts to come up with plans to limit or restrict student smartphone use by 2026.
SB 1063 requires schools with students grades 7-12 to print the 988 Suicide Crisis Lifeline on student ID’s. It also pushes schools to place QR codes on the IDs with information on mental health services and resources
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AB 1836 prohibits the use of a deceased individual’s likeness using artificial intelligence
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AB 1955 prohibits school districts from creating policies that require teachers to inform parents if their child identifies as transgender or requests to be identified by a different name or pronoun at school.
AB 1978 allows law enforcement to impound vehicles if they are obstructing or placing a barricade for the purposes of illegal racing.
AB 2186 clarifies language to include that vehicles involved in sideshows or illegal racing can be subject to the same impounding laws if they were on a roadway.
SB 1100 prohibits employers from requiring driver’s licenses to be part of the application process unless the position requires driving.
These are but a few of the hundreds and hundreds of laws going into effect for 2025. Complete lists can be found on a variety of sites on the internet.
