New California Laws
California Implements New Laws in July Regulating Data Privacy, Guns, and Food Labeling
July 1, 2024 brings a wave of new California laws covering everything from hidden fees and gun taxes to school restrooms and data privacy. The changes — signed by Governor Gavin Newsom during the 2023 legislative session — touch millions of Californians as renters, diners, gun owners, and digital consumers Whittier Daily News.
One of the biggest shifts: landlords can no longer charge more than one month's rent as a security deposit. Before AB 12, they could demand up to three months' rent upfront — a barrier that priced out many low-income renters Daily News.
Gun Tax and Glock Rules Tighten Starting Today
California now charges an 11% excise tax on every firearm and ammunition sale in the state. Known as the Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Act (AB 28), it is the first law of its kind in the US OC Register. The state expects it to raise $160 million per year for school safety and violence prevention programs.
A separate "Glock ban" expands the legal definition of a machine gun to cover any firearm that can be converted to fire automatically. The law does not ban private transfers of privately owned firearms Press Telegram. Second Amendment groups, including the NRA, have called the gun tax "a poll tax on a constitutional right" and filed legal challenges.
Hidden Fees Banned, Allergen Labels Required at Restaurant Chains
SB 478, the so-called "Junk Fee" law, bans businesses from tacking on surprise charges at checkout — a practice called drip pricing. Attorney General Rob Bonta summed it up plainly: "The price you see is the price you pay" Daily Breeze. California is the first state with such a sweeping ban, and consumer advocates say it sets a de facto national standard.
Restaurant chains with 20 or more locations must now clearly label menu items that contain any of the "big nine" food allergens under the Allergen Disclosure for Dining Experiences Act. Note: restaurants won a last-minute exemption covering service charges and tips, after the California Restaurant Association lobbied hard in the final 48 hours before the deadline OC Register.
Delete Act Gives Consumers Power Over Data Brokers
The Delete Act (SB 362) lets Californians send a single request to wipe their personal data from all registered data brokers at once. More than 500 data brokers are registered in California Whittier Daily News. The California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA) runs the central portal for these requests.
Full enforcement kicks in August 1, 2024. From that date, data brokers must stop selling or sharing new information about any consumer who has filed a delete request. Before this law, consumers had to contact each broker one by one — a process that could take months Daily News.
Schools, Workplaces, and Bars Face New Safety Rules
Nearly every California employer must now have a written workplace violence prevention plan and provide annual staff training under SB 553. The law was prompted by the 2021 mass shooting at a VTA rail yard in San Jose. Schools serving grades 3 through 5 must also stock free menstrual products in restrooms Press Telegram.
Bars and nightclubs with a Type 48 liquor license must now sell or offer drink-spiking test kits and post signs warning customers about the risk. The Right to Repair Act (SB 244) also kicks in today, forcing electronics makers to provide tools, parts, and manuals for any device that costs more than $50 Daily Breeze.
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