Everything from banning parking near crosswalks to cracking down on retail theft, to a ban on book bans to designating a new state crustacean are among new laws.

Here are a select few of the hundreds of bills passed into law by the California legislature now in effect in 2025.

PARKING

AB 413, the “daylighting” law, seeks to increase visibility for drivers allowing them to see pedestrians walking across the street to improve public safety. It is now illegal to park cars within 20 feet of a crosswalk, whether it’s marked or unmarked. This applies to any curb, even if it’s not painted red. Drivers may face a $40 fine for parking on unmarked curbs near crosswalks, or $108 for parking on curbs already painted red.

RETAIL THEFT

– SB 1416 combats organized retail theft by increasing penalties for those involved in “fencing,” the resale of stolen goods. Until Jan. 1, 2030, the bill enhances sentencing for those selling, exchanging, or returning stolen property for value. Punishment increases from one to four years based on a property value scale ranging from $50,000 to over $3 million.

– AB 2943 allows the aggregation of property value for thefts committed within 90 days to qualify as grand theft. The bill makes it a felony to possess over $950 of items obtained through retail theft with the intention to resell.

– SB 905 creates the crime of unlawful entry of a vehicle, which addresses unlawfully entering a vehicle with intent to commit a theft or any felony. It makes breaking into vehicles to steal property valued at $950 or more a felony.

RECKLESS DRIVING AND SIDESHOWS

– AB 1978 permits storing a vehicle when someone is arrested but not taken into custody for obstructing or barricading a highway or off-street parking facility for aiding a speed contest or exhibition of speed.

– AB 2186 permits the arrest and custody of those engaged in an exhibition of speed and also permits the impounding of their vehicles for up to 30 days.

– AB 3085 provides authority to seize and impound a vehicle with a warrant when the vehicle was used in violation of a speed contest or exhibition of speed, including aiding and abetting.

E-BIKE SAFETY

– AB 1774 prohibits modifying an electric bicycle’s speed capability to an extent it no longer meets the definition of an electric bicycle.

– AB 234 prohibits a person under 12 years of age from operating a class 1 or 2 electric bicycle.

Vehicle property theft:

PUBLIC PROTECTION

– SB 1414, makes it a felony to purchase or solicit a child 15 years or younger for sex.

– AB 1955 prohibits school districts from creating policies that require teachers to inform parents if their child identifies as transgender or requests to be identified by a different name or pronoun at school.

– AB 1394 allows child sex exploitation survivors to sue social media platforms for any app features that led to harm against them.

FERTILITY TREATMENTS

SB 729, starting in July, requires large employers to provide at least 100 workers with health insurance benefits to provide coverage for infertility diagnosis and treatment.

PAID FAMILY AND SICK LEAVE

– AB 2123 requires employees to use paid vacation before using California’s Paid Family Leave Program, a state-run program providing benefits to individuals taking time off to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent, or domestic partner, bond with a new minor child, or assist military family members under active duty. Previously, employers could require employees to take up to two weeks of accrued vacation before employees could access PFL benefits.

– AB 2499 allows workers to use paid sick leave if they were a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking, even if a suspect was not arrested, prosecuted, or convicted.

FOOD DELIVERY

AB 375, effective March 1, will require food delivery services to provide the first name and a photograph of the person delivering their order.

DRIVER’S LICENSE

SB 110 prevents employers from listing a driver’s license as a job qualification unless the employer can prove that driving is a necessity for the job or to commute.

BOOK BANS

AB 1078, The California Freedom To Read Act, requires public libraries to maintain a publicly accessible collection development policy guiding the selection of materials. It prohibits banning books because of the race, nationality, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, or political affiliation of a book’s subject, author, or intended audience. It also allows the public to request that materials offering “diverse perspectives,” including LGBTQ perspectives, be reconsidered for inclusion in library collections.

DRUG LAWS

AB 1775 legalizes cannabis cafes while affording cities and counties the ability to allow businesses to expand themselves to sell non-cannabis and non-alcoholic products. California law already allows people to smoke inside licensed cannabis lounges, but they were previously banned from selling food. Lounges will now also be allowed to hold live performances.

HOUSING

– AB 2347 extends the amount of time someone has to respond to an eviction notice from five to 10 days.

– SB 1103, a first-in-the-nation law, requires commercial landlords to: provide at least 60 days’ notice for rent increases and tenancy terminations; to clearly explain calculations for and proportionately allocate common-area maintenance fees; and to provide leases in the language they are negotiated in for California’s five most commonly spoken languages (Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and Korean).

– SB 611 prevents a landlord from charging a fee if a tenant pays with a check.

PERSONAL FINANCES

– SB 1061 prohibits medical debt from being listed on a credit card report.

– AB 2017 prohibits banks and credit unions from charging a fee when someone tries to withdraw or spend money with insufficient funds in their account.

FREELANCE PROTECTIONS

SB 988 imposes new requirements on contracts with a freelance worker, defined as a person or organization composed of no more than one person, to provide professional services in exchange for an amount equal to or greater than $250. The new law requires a hiring entity to pay a freelance worker on or before the date specified by their contract no later than 30 days after completion of services; requires a contract between a hiring party and a freelance worker to be in writing; and authorizes an aggrieved freelance worker to bring a civil action to recover various fees and damages depending on the violation.

EDUCATION

– AB 1780, taking effect this September, bars private universities and colleges from making admissions decisions based on an applicant’s relationship with a donor or alumni.

– AB 1821 requires school districts to teach about the Spanish colonization of California and the Gold Rush Era and how it affected Native Americans.

WILDLIFE

California now has three new official titles honoring wildlife. The Dungeness crab is now the official California crustacean. The banana slug is the state’s official slug. The black abalone has become California’s new official seashell.