Five new California laws that take effect July 1
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A new set of laws — ranging from consumer protections to mental health for students — are taking effect in California tomorrow.
The big picture: State lawmakers introduced nearly 5,000 bills in 2024, and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a little more than 1,000 of them into law, with dozens of those taking effect this week.
The latest: Here are five new laws you should know about:
🍼 Insurance coverage for fertility treatments
- Under SB 729, large group health insurance plans must cover the diagnosis and treatment of infertility and fertility treatments, including three egg retrievals for in vitro fertilization.
🙅🏻♀️ Consumer protections for subscription cancellations
- AB 2863 requires businesses to obtain a consumer's "affirmative consent" before renewing paid subscriptions.
- Previously, subscriptions continued until explicitly canceled. Now, businesses must secure permission prior to extending subscriptions after free trials or contract periods have ended.
📲 Mental health for students
- All California schools serving grades 7–12 must print the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on student ID cards under SB 1063.
- Schools can also add a QR code linking to local mental health resources.
🐶 Pet insurance transparency
- California's SB 1217 requires pet insurers to disclose coverage exclusions, including pre-existing conditions, hereditary issues and chronic illnesses.
- Insurers must also provide upfront explanations of premium adjustments based on age, claims history or location, and clearly explain how claim reimbursements are calculated.
🍸 Drink lids against date-rape drug spiking
To prevent drink tampering and boost safety, California bars and nightclubs with type 48 licenses must begin providing drink lids upon request, per AB 2375.
- Venues must also clearly display signs notifying customers about lid and drug-testing kit availability.