A host of new laws will take effect July 1 in California, bringing changes to classrooms, workplaces, public safety norms, and streaming services. Whether you are a student, worker, frequent diner at restaurants, or streaming content at home, some of the updated laws may affect your daily routine.

Here’s a look at the most significant regulations California residents should know about.

Education

Phone-Free Schools Act: As part of Assembly Bill 3216, all California school districts are required to adopt a policy limiting or prohibiting students from using smartphones during the school day whenever students are under supervision. The act aims to reduce classroom distractions and address issues regarding academic engagement and the mental health of students.
Gender-neutral restrooms: Under SB-760, all public and private schools with classes from kindergarten to grade 12 must establish at least one fully operational all-gender restroom on campus.
Crisis hotlines on ID cards: Under AB 727, public schools serving students from grades seven to 12, along with colleges and universities, are required to include information about LGBTQ+ crisis support resources, including the Trevor Project hotline on student ID cards.

Minimum Wage and Workers

The hourly minimum wage rate will see an increase in several cities and counties, including Los Angeles ($18.42), the County of Los Angeles ($18.47), Malibu ($17.91), San Francisco ($19.61), and Santa Monica ($18.47), USA Today reported. The increases vary by jurisdiction and are separate from the statewide minimum wage.
Some industry-specific workers will also see pay hikes. Wages of healthcare employees at hospital systems with 10,000 or more full-time workers or dialysis clinics will be revised to $25 per hour, according to Fox 11 Los Angeles. Cities like Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Glendale will raise their hotel and hospitality worker minimum wages. Some neighboring cities will match the City of Los Angeles’ hotel minimum wage structure to ensure a parallel increase for local hospitality workers, the report added.

Food and Consumer Protection

Two new laws will make dining out and grocery shopping more transparent for consumers.

Disclosing food allergens: Under SB 68, restaurant chains with 20 or more locations across the nation are required to list allergen information for every standard menu item on physical and digital menus. Establishments must disclose the presence of nine major allergens, including milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soybeans, and sesame.
Standardized food labels: Instead of alternate phrases, such as “sell-by date,” food labels will use standardized information to reduce confusion and food waste under AB 660. Labels must use uniform, consumer-facing phrases, such as “use by” and “best if used by,” to ensure quality and safety.

Public Safety

California is expanding firearm regulations with new limitations on the sale of certain semi-automatic pistols.

AB 1127 aims to address a design flaw that makes it possible to convert some semi-automatic firearms (including certain Glock-style pistols) into deadly machine guns with the use of a simple device.

The law restricts the commercial retail sale, transfer, or delivery of certain semi-automatic handguns. Firearms that don’t comply with the new standards will not be added to the state’s roster of approved firearms.

Housing

California is implementing changes to housing regulations to encourage more housing construction near public transportation.

Under SB 79, multi-family housing developments can be built within a half-mile of major public transit corridors. The rule will support the state’s overall efforts to increase housing supply, while promoting transit-oriented development.

Technology and Digital Services

Several new laws will address technology and digital services.

No loud commercials: SB 576 prohibits video streaming platforms from playing advertisements at a higher volume than the shows, movies, or other content being played.
Autonomous vehicles: As part of AB-1777, self-driving cars and robotaxis can receive traffic citations under certain conditions. These vehicles are also required to have an emergency response hotline for first responders. While not every Californian will be affected by every new law, the changes taking effect July 1 touch many aspects of daily life, from classrooms and workplaces to restaurants, roads, and online entertainment.