by Andrew Alonzo | aalonzo@claremont-courier.com

When the clock struck midnight last Wednesday, hundreds of new state laws went into effect. Here are six of those new laws Claremonters should know about:

Renter protection

California renters, including the 4,160 renter households in Claremont, might be pleased to hear they will get more time to respond to unlawful detainers under Assembly Bill 2347, which grants tenants 10 days to respond to a notice, an increase of five days. The bill was approved by Governor Gavin Newsom in September 2024, seven months after it was introduced by California Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D-City of San José). For help navigating the eviction process, visit selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/eviction.

SAFETY Act

Unless they consent, officials within school districts, county-run educational offices, charter schools, and state special schools may not disclose the sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression of a student, per Assembly Bill 1955. Additionally, an employee who helped a student or students “in the exercise of specified rights, work activities, or providing certain instruction, as provided,” will be protected from retaliation from employees.

“This bill would require the State Department of Education to develop resources or, as appropriate, update existing resources, for supports and community resources for the support of parents, guardians, and families of LGBTQ pupils and strategies to increase support for LGBTQ pupils, as specified,” read text from the Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today’s Youth Act, or SAFETY Act.

The bill was introduced by California Assemblymember Chris Ward (D-San Diego) last January, and was approved by Governor Newsom in July.

New felony

Per Assembly Bill 2943 and Senate Bill 905, respectively, one found to be possessing stolen goods from a retailer or vehicle totaling more than $950 with the intention of reselling the property can be arrested for felony unlawful deprivation of a retail business opportunity (AB2943) or felony automotive property theft for resale (SB905).

Those found guilty of either charge can face up to one year in prison. In the case of AB 2943, courts can also authorize a probationary period to disincentivize shoplifting and petty theft.

AB 2943 was introduced by Assemblymembers Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Hollywood) and California State Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) nearly a year ago. SC 905 was authored by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). Both were approved by Governor Newsom in August 2024.

Traffic safety

Though it’s been in effect since January 1, 2024, this year cities can begin citing vehicles for violating Assembly Bill 413.

While existing law establishes that vehicles can’t stop or park in an intersection or crosswalk, AB 413 mandates motorists cannot stop or park within 20 feet of any crosswalk and within 15 feet of a crosswalk with a curb extension.

“AB 413 is sponsored by the transportation advocacy organization Streets For All, and would prohibit vehicles from being stopped, left or parked within 20 feet of a marked crosswalk or intersection, a pedestrian safety measure known as “daylighting,” according to a 2023 announcement of the bill.

This bill was introduced in February 2023 by Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-City of San Jose) and was approved by the governor in October 2023.

Victims of violence can use sick leave time

An employee of a company that has 25 or more employees and who is a victim, or has family who was a recent victim of a crime, will be able to use sick leave to obtain services and to ensure the safety of the victim, thanks to Assembly Bill 2499. The max amount of leave that can be taken is 12 weeks.

This bill was brought by Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) in February 2024 and signed into law in late September.

Honest online commerce

AB 2863, which goes into effect on July 1, aims to make customers more aware of their purchases and to make it easier to cancel recurring subscriptions. The new law tasks companies to make it as easy to cancel a subscription as to sign up.

“This bill would require the ability to cancel or terminate to be available in the same medium that the consumer used in the transaction that resulted in the activation of the automatic renewal or continuous service, or the same medium in which the consumer is accustomed to interacting with the business, as specified,” the bill reads.

The bill also makes it so that a company must obtain a customer’s “express affirmative consent” to automatically renew a service, and maintain such consent for at least three years, or for a year following a contract’s termination.

Customers will also receive yearly notices about subscription services, and fee change notifications will include information on how to cancel subscriptions.

The law was introduced by Schiavo in February 2024 and inked by Governor Newsom last September. It will apply to subscriptions or purchasing agreements amended, newly entered into, or extended on or after July 1.

A month after AB 2863’s passage, the Federal Trade Commission announced it had crafted a similar “click-to-cancel rule” to address consumer issues over online subscriptions. That rule goes into effect Tuesday, January 14.

For a summary of additional laws, visit newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news or courts.ca.gov.