On Tuesday, July 1, a new wave of California laws will take effect, bringing changes across consumer protections, labor and wage regulations, healthcare, education, public safety, and justice. From updated rules on subscription cancellations to expanded mental health support for students, here’s a quick overview of some of the new laws to know before July.
Consumer Protections
1. Subscription cancellations
📃 TL;DR – Helps consumers cancel subscriptions
AB 2863 – Businesses are now required to get clear consent from consumers before renewing a paid subscription once a free trial or initial contract ends. They must also make cancellation just as easy as signing up and provide yearly reminders that include pricing and cancellation information.
2. Short-term rental fees
📃 TL;DR – Short-term rental platforms like Airbnb must disclose all rental fees upfront
AB 2202 – Airbnb and other short-term rental platforms must clearly disclose all cleaning fees, rental charges, penalties, and required cleaning duties upfront, before a booking is made. Non-compliant listings could face fines of up to $10,000 per violation.
Worker and Wage Changes
3. Domestic worker protections
📃 TL;DR – Household domestic service workers receive workplace protections
SB 1350 – This new law expands Cal-OSHA’s definition of “employment” to include household domestic workers, such as nannies and house cleaners, ensuring they receive the same workplace protections as other employees.
4. Minimum wage increases
📃 TL;DR – Many Californian cities increase minimum wage
CA Labor Law – On July 1, several cities across California will implement local minimum wage increases. While the statewide minimum wage rose to $16.50 per hour on January 1, 2025, various municipalities have set higher local rates that will soon take effect, such as the following.
- City of Los Angeles: $17.87
- Los Angeles County (unincorporated areas): $17.81
- Pasadena: $18.04
- Santa Monica: $17.81
- Sonoma County: $23.15
- San Francisco: $19.18
Health and Education
5. Fertility treatment coverage
📃 TL;DR – Requires most health insurance plans to cover fertility treatment
SB 729 – Health insurance providers must now cover fertility services, including IVF, infertility diagnoses, and related treatments. However, religious employers are exempt from this requirement.
6. Student mental health
📃 TL;DR – Student ID cards must include the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number
SB 1063 – Student ID cards for grades 7-12 in both public and private schools must display the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline number. Additionally, these IDs may feature a QR code linking to mental health resources.
Public Safety and Justice
7. Crackdown on sale of stolen goods (SB 1144)
📃 TL;DR – Policy against the sale of stolen goods on online marketplaces
SB-1144 – Online marketplaces like eBay and Facebook Marketplace are now required to gather information on high-volume third-party sellers and enforce policies to prevent the sale of stolen items. They must also offer a way for users to report stolen goods and alert law enforcement if sellers are found advertising or selling stolen products.
8. CARE Act court updates
📃 TL;DR – Courts must provide ongoing notice to CARE Act petitioners
SB 42 – The CARE Act allows petitioners, like family members and first responders, to request court-ordered mental health services for adults with severe mental illnesses. California courts are now required to keep petitioners updated on the status of these cases.