Hundreds of new laws passed by the California Legislature will take effect in the new year, from legalizing jaywalking in many scenarios to a higher minimum wage for more workers. Most of them take effect on Jan. 1. Here are 13 laws coming to California in 2023:
Kiswendsida Kola received a postcard this fall with a novel proposition.
It read: “You may be eligible to receive $100 per day for your jury service!” as a participant in a pilot program called Be the Jury.
n February of 2020, Covid-19 had not yet hit American shores.
But even before the pandemic emerged in the U.S., Manju Kulkarni, executive director of the AAPI Equity Alliance, noticed a menacing trend: the rise in hate-motivated violence and speech targeting Asian Americans, fueled by former President Donald Trump’s xenophobic remarks on the origins of the virus and its carriers. “The China virus,” proclaimed Trump. “Kung Flu,” he stated, to his cheering fans on the campaign trail.
A Historic Ride took place this morning in San Francisco celebrating the opening of Muni's Chinatown Rose Pak subway station that connects Chinatown with Mission Bay.
One of those present for the first ride out of the station was Assembly Member Phil Ting. Click the link below to listen to the live interview.
After the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office released its grim report that California faces possible deficits of up to $25 billion, Democratic leaders put on a brave face, promising to protect existing budget priorities from cuts.
After back-to-back historic budget surpluses, California analysts on Wednesday projected that Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislators could be forced to navigate a $25 billion budget deficit next year. That shortfall, according to a new report from the state’s independent Legislative Analyst’s Office, could be followed by continued annual budgetary gaps between $17 billion and $8 billion for the subsequent three years. If the forecast holds true through June, when the state’s next budget must be passed, Newsom and legislators may have to make some tough calls.
California not long ago was reveling in a record budget surplus. Now the Legislature’s fiscal analysts are projecting a $25 billion deficit next fiscal year as tax revenues decline.
The nonpartisan agency on Wednesday put the Capitol on alert by recommending state lawmakers cut spending when they reconvene in January — and even hold back some already-budgeted funding in order to avoid the shortfall.
.... Starting Jan. 1, thanks to the “Freedom to Walk” act, people in California will no longer have to worry so much about making a legal misstep when they are safely crossing a street. Signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the act was designed to give pedestrians in the state more leeway. No longer will they be charged with an infraction or fined for crossing outside designated intersections — with the caveat that police officers may still give tickets to pedestrians who are creating a safety hazard, in their view.
When Gov. Gavin Newsom signed “The Truth in Labeling for Recyclable Materials” bill, SB 343, into law in October 2021, he also signed a companion bill into law about compostable labeling, AB 1201. Both laws take effect on January 1, 2024.
.... California has long had a reputation for strict enforcement of jaywalking laws. That is about to change with a new law decriminalizing the offense that goes into effect on Jan. 1. Under the “Freedom to Walk” act, signed on Sept. 30 by Gov. Gavin Newsom, pedestrians will no longer be given a moving violation with a fine of up to $250 if they cross outside of designated intersections.
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