List: Here are 24 new California laws to know in 2024 (2024)

California lawmakers sent hundreds of bills to Gov. Gavin Newsom's desk in 2023.

Many were signed by the governor just ahead of an October deadline to approve or veto, meaning some significant new rules for the nation's most populous state in 2024.

From employment to public health, here is a list of 24 new state laws coming to California in 2024.

2024 California employment laws

• State Minimum Wage Increase: The state minimum wage will increase to $16 per hour starting on Jan. 1. California’s minimum wage previously stood at $15.50. Some cities and counties have a higher local minimum wage, according to the Department of Industrial Relations.
• Minimum Wage Increase for Healthcare Workers: Introduced by State Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, SB 252 will raise the minimum wage for health care workers to $23. Workers must be employed under covered health care facilities in California. This bill goes into effect starting June 1.
• Paid Sick Leave: Introduced by State Sen. Lena Gonzalez, SB 616 would apply to employees who have been working in California for the same employer for 30 or more days within their starting year. The bill will require an employee to have no less than 40 hours or five days of accrued sick leave or paid time off by the 200th calendar day of employment, or in each 12-month period. The bill will go into effect starting on Jan. 1.
• Reproductive Leave: Introduced by State Sen. Susan Rubio, SB 848 would require employers to offer reproductive leave. The California Fair Employment and Housing Act makes it unlawful to refuse or grant a request by an employee to take up to five days upon the death of a family member. This bill would allow reproductive leave within three months of the event and will use other leave balances otherwise available to the employee. An employer may deny leave for more than one reproductive loss within 12 months. The bill will go into effect starting Jan. 1.
• Work From Home: Introduced by State Sen. Angelique Ashby, SB 731 requires an employer to provide a 30-day advance written notice before requiring remote employees to return to an in-person setting. The notice would also explain the employee’s right to remain remote as an accommodation, if applicable, to their disabilities. This bill will go into effect starting Jan. 1.
• Penalizing Cannabis: Introduced by State Sen. Steven Bradford, SB 700 would make it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against a person in hiring, termination, or any term or condition of employment
• H-2A Information for Agricultural Workers: Introduced by Assemblymember Ash Kalra, AB 635 Section 2810.5 would require an employer to give an employee written notice of the federal H-2A visa in English or Spanish, at the employee’s request. Other languages may also be included and require the Labor Commissioner to create a template that complies with these requirements. The bill will go into effect starting March 15.

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2024 California housing laws

• Security Deposits: Introduced by Assemblymember Matt Haney, AB 12 would cap security deposits at one month’s rent even if the unit is furnished or not. This new law will allow owners of no more than two rental properties, or no more than four units, to request up to two months of rent. The bill will go into effect starting July 1.
• Rent Control: Introduced by Assemblyman Zbur, AB 1620 would require that tenants in rent-controlled units who have permanent disabilities related to mobility be allowed to relocate to an available and accessible unit at the same rental rate and terms. This requirement will apply to properties with five or more rental units and will take effect on Jan. 1.
• Credit History: Introduced by State Sen. Susan Eggman, SB 267 prohibits the use of a person’s credit history as part of the application process for a rental housing accommodation. Tenants must offer the application the option to provide reasonable evidence to pay such as government benefit payments, pay records and bank statements. The bill will go into effect starting Jan. 1.

2024 California transportation and traffic laws

• Bicycle Signals: A new section to AB 1909 will require bicyclists to obey bicycle signals whenever an official traffic control signal exhibiting different colored bicycle symbols is shown concurrently with official traffic control signals or pedestrian control signals exhibiting different colored lights or arrows. This section will go into effect starting Jan. 1.
• Speed Cameras: Introduced by Assemblymember Laura Friedman, AB 645 would allow the cities of Long Beach, San Jose, Oakland, Glendale, Los Angeles and San Francisco to establish a Speed Safety System Pilot Program. The program would require the listed cities to engage in a 30-day public information campaign before implementation to determine where systems would be detecting violations. Violations captured by speed cameras will be subject to civil penalties up to $25. The pilot program is authorities until 2032.
• Shared Mobility Devices: Introduced by Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer, AB 410 will expand on the definition of mobility devices to include electrically motorized board, motorized scooter, electric bicycle and non-electric bicycles. The new law would require a shared mobility service provider to place a tactile sign containing raised characters and accompanying braille, as specified, to identify the device for the purpose of reporting illegal or negligent activity. The bill will go into effect starting on Jan. 1.

2024 California public health laws

• Conservatorship for Gravely Disabled Persons: Code 5350 would establish the procedure of establishing, administering and terminating a conservatorship for persons who are disabled as a result of a mental health disorder or impairment by chronic alcoholism. Minors with disabilities can now be appointed a conservator, who will undergo a background check and may be subject to stand before a court. This new code will go into effect on Jan. 1.
• Electronic Medical Records:Code 14046 would allow the establishment of the Medi-Cal Promoting Interoperability Program for the purposes of providing federal incentive payments to Medi-Cal providers for the implementation and use of electronic health records systems. This statute will go into effect on Jan. 1.
• LGBTQ Youth Support: Under SB 407, the California Department of Social Services will be directed to ensure LGBTQ youth are placed with supportive and gender-affirming foster parents. The law requires a family demonstrate the ability and willingness to meet a child's needs, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

2024 California public safety laws

• Concealed Carry Revision: SB 2 prevents concealed carry of a firearms in some public spaces, including sidewalks and school zones.
• Fentanyl Distribution Penalty: AB 701 increases potential prison sentences for criminals convicted of dealing high amounts of fentanyl.
• Child Sex Trafficking: SB 14 classifies child sex trafficking as a serious felony. It includes harsher penalties on people convicted of such crimes.
• Ebony Alerts: SB 673 creates a new emergency alert called an Ebony Alert, used to help locate missing Black women and youth.
• 'Excited Delirium': AB 360 prohibits coroners, medical examiners and physicians from using the controversial term "excited delirium" as a cause of death and from being recognized as a valid medical diagnosis. The bill would prohibit a peace officer from using the term to describe an individual in an incident report.

2024 California consumer laws

• Campsite Reservations: AB 618 imposes fees on state campsite reservation holders who cancel within two to six days of their stays. Those fees can include the cost of the first night.
• Gender-Neutral Toy Section: Under AB 1084, department stores with at least 500 employees in California are required to have a gender-neutral section of children's toys.

2024 California state symbols

State Mushroom: Finally, there's AB 261. This law establishes the California golden chanterelle as the official state mushroom.

NBCLA's Jonathan Lloyd contributed to this report.