These new California laws go into effect July 1

Numerous new California laws signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom take effect July 1. One requires every school district in the state to adopt a policy limiting smartphones on campuses, and another overhauls the confusing maze of expiration date labels on grocery store shelves. Here’s a rundown of the laws that will impact the lives of California residents.

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‘Sell by’ dates are banned. Here’s what’s on grocery labels now.

If you’ve ever thrown out food simply because you weren’t sure whether the date on the package meant it was unsafe or just past its prime, California’s new food labeling law is for you. Starting July 1, manufacturers that display a date label must use one of two standardized phrases: “Best if Used By” for peak quality, and “Use By” for food safety. “Sell by” dates, which were never meant for shoppers in the first place, but rather to tell stores when to rotate stock, are now banned. So are “Expires On,” “Freshest Before,” and the more than 50 other phrases that have cluttered grocery shelves for decades.

“Having to wonder whether our food is still good is an issue that we all have struggled with,” said Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin, who authored the first-in-the-nation bill. Eggs, infant formula and beer and malt beverages are exempt. Products already on shelves before July 1 don’t need to be pulled immediately.

California just overrode local zoning near transit stops

California’s most sweeping housing law in years takes effect July 1, and cities across the state are scrambling. Senate Bill 79, the Abundant and Affordable Homes Near Transit Act, allows multifamily housing developments near major transit stops in eight urban counties, overriding local zoning restrictions. The affected counties are Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Santa Clara, Alameda, Sacramento, San Francisco and San Mateo. Neighborhoods currently zoned for single-family homes within a half-mile of qualifying rail or bus rapid transit stops can now see mid-rise apartment buildings.

The LA City Council voted to oppose the bill, and Mayor Karen Bass reportedly urged Gov. Newsom to veto it. Los Angeles has since opted to delay, voting to overhaul a portion of its zoning map to buy itself until around 2030. “SB 79 is a historic step toward tackling the root cause of California’s affordability crisis,” said the bill’s author, Sen. Scott Wiener of San Francisco.

Waymo vehicles can now get a traffic ticket

California’s robotaxis have a new set of rules starting July 1. Under Assembly Bill 1777, law enforcement can issue traffic citations to driverless vehicles like Waymo’s for moving violations, which manufacturers must then report to the DMV within 72 hours. The DMV can use the data to monitor safety and revoke permits for companies racking up violations. Each autonomous vehicle must also be equipped with a two-way communication device so first responders on the scene can reach a remote human operator within 30 seconds. “It’s clear that AVs will soon be commonplace, and California needs to ensure safety for all on our streets,” said Assemblymember Phil Ting, who authored the bill.

Every California school must now have a smartphone policy

California’s Phone-Free Schools Act takes effect July 1, requiring every school district, charter school and county office of education to adopt a policy limiting or prohibiting smartphone use on campus. The key shift from an existing law is that schools will now be required to act, not just permitted to. Each district sets its own rules: Some have adopted locked Yondr pouches, others require phones to stay in backpacks, so policies will vary. Students can still use phones in emergencies, with teacher permission, for medical reasons, or when required under a special education plan. 

“Research continues to demonstrate the potential harms of smartphone use among children,” said Assemblymember Josh Hoover, who co-authored the bipartisan bill. “The growing use of these devices in a child’s everyday life can contribute to lower test scores, anxiety, depression, and even suicide.”

Chain restaurants must now list allergens on menus

If you have a food allergy, dining out at a chain restaurant just got a little safer. Starting July 1, California became the first state in the nation to require large restaurant chains to disclose allergens directly on their menus. The law applies to restaurants with 20 or more locations and covers nine allergens: milk, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans and sesame. The information must appear on the menu or be available in a digital format with a physical backup.

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Ads on streaming platforms are getting quieter

If you, like everyone else on the planet, hate when advertisements suddenly start blaring, you’ll rejoice at Senate Bill 576. Thanks to the new law, video streaming services can no longer play advertisements louder than the content itself. The law brings streaming services in line with existing Federal Communications Commission regulations for TV broadcast and cable stations.

An easier process for transgender and nonbinary Californians to change names

Assembly Bill 1084 now makes it easier for Californians who are nonbinary or transgender to legally change their name and gender. Doing so enables these residents to get new identification documents faster than before at a time when the Trump administration is trying to block trans people from getting passports that match their gender identity. Starting July 1, third parties can no longer file objections to adults’ petitions to change their names due to gender identity. In addition, adults, as well as minors whose parents have signed on, must have their name-change petition order issued within six weeks. 

Minimum wage increases in some cities and counties

Like clockwork, the minimum wage is increasing throughout the state. Cities and counties generally change the rate on either Jan. 1 or July 1 annually. Alameda County and Los Angeles County are among the biggest seeing increases on July 1: LA County to $18.42 an hour and Alameda County to $17.76 an hour. Starting Wednesday, Emeryville’s minimum wage will be set at $20.34 an hour, among the highest in the state. You can check other minimum wage ordinances with UC Berkeley’s statewide tool. 

To see which California laws went into effect starting Jan. 1, see our earlier story.