Legislation News
Legislation
Business groups express relief as Newsom signs PAGA reforms into law
Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed newly passed legislation that aims to reform the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA), which business groups have long criticized as a vehicle for rampant lawsuit abuse that offers little in the way of worker protections.
Legislation
Restaurant industry critical of state's interpretation of new California law barring 'hidden fees' on goods
Attorney General Rob Bonta has served up an unappetizing interpretation of a new California measure designed to do away with junk fees on goods and services, according to the state’s restaurant industry. Bonta's office has indicated that interpretation could expose restaurants to lawsuits and official enforcement actions.
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Legislation
State Sen. Becker: ‘Our state is facing an unprecedented crisis of skyrocketing insurance rates’
State Senator Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park) announced that SB 1060, the Fire Insurance Risk Evaluation Act (FIRE Act), is designed to address California’s escalating insurance rates. The proposed legislation requires property insurance providers to consider wildfire mitigation efforts when underwriting insurance policies. Becker shared this information in a press release dated April 24.
Legislation
No-injury lawsuits raise costs for struggling low-income Californians
The cost of living in Sunnyvale significantly surpasses both the statewide and nationwide averages. Low-income families are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet, with a surge in "frivolous" lawsuits in the state contributing to soaring prices.
Legislation
With California drafting cyberrisk rules, companies prepare for potential regulatory actions, lawsuits
As California regulators set new parameters on cybersecurity rules, it’s raising questions about how business should adapt for implementation.
Legislation
CalChamber loses bid to delay California data privacy regulations
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - California can begin enforcing data privacy regulations under a law voters passed in 2020, an appeals court ruled, rejecting arguments by the California Chamber of Commerce that there should be a one-year delay between the promulgation of new rules and when they can be enforced.
Legislation
X Corp. appeals loss in challenge to terms-and-conditions law in California
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - X Corp., the former Twitter, is appealing a federal judge's ruling that preliminarily upheld a new California law that targets terms and services for social media companies.
Legislation
New sick leave law expands mandates imposed in California big cities now statewide; New lawsuit risk for employers
A new sick leave mandate, which first applied in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, and other large California cities, has been in effect at workplaces statewide since Jan. 1.
Legislation
Proposed Prop 65 labeling rules may help some businesses, but could open door to more Prop 65 lawsuits in coming years
California regulators are expected to require new updates to Proposition 65 warning labels in 2024, significantly changing how it will read because a chemical name also must be listed.
Legislation
X Corp.'s challenge to California's social media law off to rough start
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Legal Newsline) - X Corp., the former Twitter, hasn't shown a likelihood of success in its challenge to a new California law imposing requirements to social media companies.
Legislation
California employers facing new big lawsuit risk from new law easing path to courts for workers accusing retaliation
A new law taking effect in 2024 will require courts to presume employers are at fault when they are accused of firing workers for engaging in "protected activity"
Legislation
Newsom vetoes bill that would have required seniority-first hiring at businesses across California
A proposed law that would have changed rehiring rules for laid off workers in dozens more industries statewide was vetoed by Gov. Gavin Newsom at the end of this fall’s legislative session. The law would have forced businesses to try to rehire former workers first, no matter how many times those workers refused
Legislation
With smaller homes, lawmakers hope for big impact on California housing crisis
With recent data showing even higher hurdles to home ownership in California, a spate of new laws were passed this session to help produce more Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU), which are smaller scale units that share the lot of a single family home.
Legislation
California employers face greater lawsuit risk under new criminal background check rules
Recent changes to the Fair Chance Act (FCA) mean there are new rules that California employers must follow when making decisions about new hires and what can be part of the background check, and employers should expect more lawsuits when denying people jobs
Legislation
Experts warn California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act is veiled censorship, may harm child education
Law professor Eric Goldman said the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (CAADCA), which mandates age verification to differentiate between child and adult users online, is veiled content censorship under the guise of protecting minors' privacy.
Legislation
California water supply and strategy bills get bipartisan support in Sacramento
A long-term update to the California Water Plan received unanimous bipartisan support in the California Senate this session and may be brought back next year after more logistical aspects can be considered.
Legislation
Climate disclosure rules raise burden, risks for businesses in California, across U.S.
The recent passage of climate accountability laws for businesses is raising questions about costs to consumers, the regional economy, and if such reporting means less climate change innovation.
Legislation
New CA school curriculum law faces constitutional hurdles, runs over local community control of what is taught in schools
A new law that gives more state power over what is taught in schools is raising questions over whether the state isn't just running roughshod over local school boards because the state doesn't like local school curriculum decisions.
Legislation
Newsom signs bill allowing lawsuits to continue, even amid fight over whether arbitration is required
In what’s anticipated to mean more angst for California businesses, Gov. Gavin Newsom recently signed a new law, SB 365, that allows court cases to continue against employers while arbitration appeals are still pending.
Legislation
Newsom vetoes bill that would have paid striking workers amid rising unemployment debt
Business groups warned the legislation would have only worsened strikes, by making strikes far less painful for unions, while at the same time further draining the state's unemployment funds.