A wave of new laws went into effect across California on July 1, covering everything from subscription services and pet insurance to influencer earnings and drink safety at nightclubs. Here’s a breakdown of the most notable changes Californians should know:
Subscription Services: Easier to Cancel
AB 2863 requires companies to get affirmative consent before auto-renewing subscriptions and to provide a simple, one-click cancel option. Gone are the days of complicated cancellation processes involving emails or hidden links.
Short-Term Rentals: No More Hidden Fees
AB 2202 targets transparency in vacation rentals. Hosts on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO must now disclose cleaning fees and itemize tasks upfront — or face penalties up to $10,000.
Stolen Goods on Marketplaces
SB 1144 mandates online marketplaces such as Facebook and eBay to flag suspected stolen items and report them to law enforcement.
Pet Insurance Disclosures
SB 1217 requires pet insurers to explain premium increases, including reasons such as pet age or location.
Cell Phone Use While Driving
A new law bans holding or touching a cell phone for any reason while driving — closing loopholes in prior distracted driving legislation.
Drink Spiking Prevention
AB 2375 requires bars and clubs with a Type 48 license to offer drink lids upon request to help prevent spiking. Businesses may charge a small fee for the lid.
IVF and Infertility Coverage
SB 729 now mandates health insurers to cover IVF and related fertility treatments, with exceptions for certain religious employers.
Student Mental Health Resources
SB 1063 requires school ID cards for grades 7–12 to include the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline number or a QR code linking to it.
Mental Health Court Reforms
SB 42 requires courts to keep petitioners updated on the progress of mental health-related cases. Other bills—SB 1323, SB 1400, SB 910, and SB 1025—expand court diversion programs, remote hearings, and mental health tracking for juveniles and civil cases.
Criminal Sentencing Reform
Prop 36 increases penalties for repeat theft and drug offenses, including treatment mandates and prison terms up to three years for chronic offenders.
Child Influencer Protections
Two new laws expand financial protections for minors earning income from content creation:
- AB 1880 (Coogan Law extension) requires 15% of a child influencer’s gross earnings to be deposited into a trust, accessible only at age 18.
SB 764 (Child Content Creator Rights Act) applies to minors who appear in more than 30% of monetized content or generate over $1,250/month. In those cases, 65% of income must be saved in trust, with screen time and earnings records maintained.
These sweeping reforms aim to increase consumer protections, promote transparency, and expand rights across a range of industries. Californians are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the new laws — and stay informed as more are rolled out.
The ones that I hate are increased criminal penalties for thefts and drugs.
Knee-jerk reactions were never the basis for good laws.
Say you’re not a parent without saying you’re not a parent. Punishments work if reinforced consistently.