A look at 32 new laws coming to the State of California in the year 2023. In most cases, these laws take effect on January 1, 2023.
In the past year, Governor Gavin Newsom and the state legislator signed and passed more than 1,166 bills into law. He signed 997 bills into law and vetoed just 169 bills. Here are 32 bills you might want to be aware of heading into the new year.
Here is a look at some of the new California laws set to take effect Jan 1, 2023.
Abortions (SB 1375) – allows qualified nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives the ability to perform first-trimester abortions without supervision of a physician.
Auto Liability Insurance (SB 1107) – Improves liability coverage for California motorists, protecting people injured in crashes as well those exposed to paying higher medical and vehicle repair bills.
Catalytic Converters (SB 1087) – specifically list who can sell catalytic converters to recyclers and require those recyclers to keep documentation such as the year, make, model, and copy of the vehicle title from which the catalytic converter was removed. The purpose of these laws is to help reduce catalytic converter theft.
Convicted Criminals Get Clean Slate (SB 731) – create a comprehensive process to automatically seal conviction and arrest records in the state of California once a person has fully completed their sentence and successfully gone two years without further contact with the justice system. Records of arrests that didn’t result in a conviction would also be automatically sealed. Bill was created based on barriers ex-convicts face in life after prison are referred to as “collateral consequences.”
COVID-19 Exposure the Workplace (AB 2693): extends COVID-19 exposure notifications at the workplace until 2024.
COVID-19 Misinformation (AB 2098) – makes it easier to publish doctors. This bill would designate the dissemination of misinformation or disinformation related to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, or “COVID-19,” as unprofessional conduct. The bill would also make findings and declarations in this regard.
Gender-Affirming Healthcare (SB 107) – protects trans kids and their families if they flee to California from any state criminalizing the parents of trans kids for allowing them to receive gender-affirming care. If these parents and their kids come to California, the legislation will help protect them from having their kids taken away from them or from being criminally prosecuted for supporting their trans kids’ access to healthcare.
Dolly’s Library (SB 1183) – By June 2023, the state will provide children up to age 5 with access to free books. bipartisan legislation in partnership with The Dollywood Foundation to establish the Imagination Library of California Statewide Program, has been signed by Governor Newsom. The Imagination Library of California statewide program will work with local partners in each county to mail free, age-appropriate books directly to California’s early readers every month, from birth until age five
Employers Must Disclose Salary Ranges (SB 1162): California now requires most employees to disclose pay scales upfront. All workplaces 15 or more employees must include a salary range in job postings (paper or online). Employers with 100 or more must submit data to the state.
Faithless Electors (SB 103): Ensures the state’s presidential electors cast ballots for candidates who win the popular vote and do not instead switch candidates or abstain from voting.
Fast Food Pay Raises (AB 257): authorizes the creation of the Fast Food Council comprised of representatives from labor and management to set minimum standards for workers in the industry, including for wages, conditions related to health and safety, security in the workplace, the right to take time off from work for protected purposes and protection from discrimination and harassment.
Hate Crimes at Schools (AB 2282) – New penalties for people who use nooses, placing or displaying a sign, mark, symbol, emblem, or other physical impression, including, but not limited to, a Nazi swastika, and burning, desecrating, or destroying a religious symbol, such as a cross, at schools and public places, generally, as specified, for the purpose of terrorizing a person, as specified.
Holidays (AB 2956) – Lunar New Year becomes a state Holiday. The bill would authorize state employees, with specified exceptions, to elect to receive 8 hours of holiday credit for the “Lunar New Year” in lieu of receiving 8 hours of personal holiday credit, and to elect to use 8 hours of vacation, annual leave, or compensating time off, consistent with departmental operational needs and collective bargaining agreements, for “Lunar New Year,” as specified.
- April 24 as Genocide Remembrance Day
- June 19 as Juneteenth
- Sept. 4 as Native American Day
Jaywalking (AB 1238) – it still does not legalize jaywalking, but it does say one may cross a street when no cars or around or its less risky and doesn’t pose an immediate threat of danger. CHP also has to now submit an annual report on pedestrian injuries and fatalities.
Loitering (SB 357) – repeals a provision of California law criminalizing “loitering with the intent to engage in prostitution.” This criminal provision — arrests for which are based on an officer’s subjective perception of whether a person is “acting like” or “looks like” they intend to engage in sex work — results in the disproportionate criminalization of trans, Black and Brown women, and perpetuates violence toward sex workers.
Mental Health Diversion (SB 1223): requires a court to divert a defendant into a mental health program if the defendant has been diagnosed with a mental disorder and the court finds the mental disorder was a significant factor in the person’s commission of the crime.
Minimum Wage (SB 3) – signed in 2016, this set annual increases for minimum wage. Beginning January 1, 2023, minimum wage will be set at $15.50 an hour. Cities may have higher wages, such as City of Richmond who announced their minimum wage would be $16.17.
Motor Vehicle Speed Contests and Exhibition of Speed (AB 2000) – Parking lots and off-street parking facilities are now included as locations where it is a crime to engage in a speed contest, exhibition of speed, or sideshow activity.
No More New furs (AB 44) – this was actually passed in the 2019-20 legislation session, but take effect in January. This bill would make it unlawful to sell, offer for sale, display for sale, trade, or otherwise distribute for monetary or nonmonetary consideration a fur product, as defined, in the state. The bill would also make it unlawful to manufacture a fur product in the state for sale.
Oil and Gas in Neighborhoods (SB 1137) – among other things, requires 1,200 foot space between oil and gas wells and community areas.
Online Marketplace Reporting (AB 1700) – law requires the Attorney General’s Office to create an online reporting system for users of third-party online marketplaces to report listings of suspected stolen items. The reported information would be available to local law enforcement and the CHP’s Organized Retail Crime Task Force to assist with investigations.
Paid Family Leave (AB 951) – updates formula used to determine paid-family leave. The bill extends increased wage replacement rates for State Disability Insurance and Paid Family Leave that were set to sunset at the end of the year. Under the legislation’s phased increase in benefits, by 2025, workers earning less than the state’s average wage could receive up to 90% of their regular wages while taking leave.
Phone From Jail for Free (SB 1008) – Keep Families Connected Act,” makes phone calls to and from people in state prison and state & local juvenile facilities free of charge. The bill would prohibit a county, city, or state agency from receiving revenue for the provision of communication services to persons in its custody.
Pink Tax (AB 1286) – prohibit a person, firm, partnership, company, corporation, or business from charging a different price for any 2 goods that are substantially similar, as defined, if those goods are priced differently based on the gender of the individuals for whom the goods are marketed and intended.
Police Use of Rape Kits (SB 1228) – Evidence from rape kits may only be used to identify the perpetrator of a sexual assault. Police can no longer use this evidence for other crimes or retain the victims DNA.
Public Employment for Peace Officers (SB 960) – The law maintains that peace officers, including peace officer trainees, be legally authorized to work in the United States consistent with federal law and regulations, however, removes the requirement that they be citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
Restorative Justice at Schools (AB 2598) – require the State Department of Education to develop evidence-based best practices for restorative justice practice implementation on a school campus and to make these best practices available on the department’s internet website on or before June 1, 2024, as specified. Law is aimed to “disrupted” the “school-to-prison” pipeline.
Social Media & Hate Speech (AB 587) – social media companies must post its policies on hate speech, disinformation, harassment and extremism. They must also provide reports to the state regarding violations and enforcement actions.
Song lyrics in Court (AB 2799): defines how music, specifically rap songs, can be used in criminal court. The bill requires a court, in balancing the probative value of a creative expression against the substantial danger of undue prejudice, to first consider that the probative value of the creative expression for its literal truth is minimal unless that expression meets specified conditions. The bill would then require a court to consider that undue prejudice includes the possibility that the trier of fact will treat the creative expression as evidence of the defendant’s propensity for violence or criminal disposition, as well as the possibility that the evidence will inject racial bias into the proceedings.
Suicide Hotline (AB 988) – This bill created the Miles Hall Lifeline and Suicide Prevention Act. The bill would require, no later than July 1, 2024, the office to verify interoperability between and across 911 and 988. The bill would require the office to consult with specified entities on any technology requirements for 988 centers.
Vehicular Manslaughter (SB 1472) – expands the criteria for “gross negligence” as it relates to the crime of vehicular manslaughter. Drivers involved in sideshow activity, exhibition of speed, or speeding over 100 miles per hour which results in a fatality could now be charged with Vehicular Manslaughter with Gross Negligence.
Wild Pigs (SB 856) – Lifts barriers to hunting the destructive and invasive species whose population is exploding in 56 of 58 counties.
Other articles of Interest:
- California Sees New Alcoholic Beverage Laws
- CHP Highlights New Laws in 2023
- DMV Highlights New Laws in 2023
- Sen. Dodd Highlights New Laws Set to Take Effect Jan. 1
2 comments
This article leaves out a few other laws passed in 2023:
* No vape flavors. This nonsensical law goes into effect in 2023, punishing ex-smoker’s quitting the more hated cigarettes for a significantly lower risk product like vaping. What makes this law especially horrific is that it is passed instead of enforcing existing laws that prohibit sales to minors. CA loves passing laws it should not or can’t enforce. This one is a COMPLETE FARCE!
* If you have solar or plan to get solar, a new regulation called NEMS 3.0 is being passed that will punish both existing and new solar customers by offering less $’s for exported solar, which in turn extends the time solar will pay itself back by many, many years. This new legislation goes in to effect April 14, 2023. Existing solar customers are either on NEMS 1.0 or NEMS 2.0 regulations — they will be grandfathered for a period of 20 years, when they will then be switched over to NEMS 3.0. Also, for grandfathered customers, additional solar panels can be added as part of the NEMS 2.0 as long as an application has been submitted by April 13, 2023 and then installation with approval to go live happens within 3 years. This is the only shot existing solar customer’s can add without switching over to the much worse NEMS 3.0, so if this is you –>> DO IT!!!
At the end of the day, despite CA usually leading the way or being on the leading edge, we are too happy to pass what is thought to be sensible laws and regulations when in reality they are unenforceable or passed without full engagement by “we the people” when catering to special or personal interests. FULL STOP.
Sure…with nearly 1,000 laws signed, some are bound to be left off 🙂
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