6 new California laws going into effect Oct. 1, 2025

A number of new laws are set to take effect in California on Oct The laws cover the use of AI in hiring practices taxing cannabis and more Click through the gallery below to see the state laws you need to know The California Civil Rights Council approved regulations taking effect on Oct that clarify that employers cannot use artificial intelligence AI and automated-decision systems ADSs to make hiring or employment decisions that discriminate against job applicants or employees based on their national origin sex pregnancy marital status disability or age According to the council these automated-decision systems can exacerbate existing biases and contribute to discriminatory outcomes including hiring tools that reject women applicants by mimicking the existing features of a company s male-dominated workforce or a job advertisement delivery system that reinforces gender and racial stereotypes such as directing cashier ads to women and taxi jobs to Black workers djiledesign Getty Images Assembly Bill prohibits artificial intelligence systems from impersonating licensed healthcare professionals either directly though video calls or online chats or by using terms and conversational tones that imply a person may be interacting with a human provider Lacheev Getty Images A law signed by Gov Gavin Newsom Sept temporarily rolls back the cannabis excise tax to until suspending an increase to levied earlier this year The law is meant to help dispensaries that proponents say are operating under slim margins due to being bogged down by years of overregulation AP Photo Rich Pedroncelli File Senate Bill which implements several labor related rules tied to the budget allows certain state employees who hold high-level managerial positions known as Career Executive Assignment to be eligible for Nonindustrial Disability Insurance for a disability period beginning on or after July shironosov Getty Images Senate Bill also allows for construction contracts for the Golden Gate Bridge Seismic Retrofit Project awarded in to be exempt from stricter lead regulations that went into effect statewide on Jan The exemption was granted to prevent project delays as the seismic retrofit involves removing a large quantity of existing lead-based paint on the bridge Kenishirotie Getty Images Senate Bill also requires a million supplemental payment from the state s General Fund to the Populace Employees Retirement Fund to help address the state s unfunded pension liabilities Ridofranz Getty Images Show Caption of The California Civil Rights Council approved regulations taking effect on Oct that clarify that employers cannot use artificial intelligence AI and automated-decision systems ADSs to make hiring or employment decisions that discriminate against job applicants or employees based on their national origin sex pregnancy marital status disability or age According to the council these automated-decision systems can exacerbate existing biases and contribute to discriminatory outcomes including hiring tools that reject women applicants by mimicking the existing features of a company s male-dominated workforce or a job advertisement delivery system that reinforces gender and racial stereotypes such as directing cashier ads to women and taxi jobs to Black workers djiledesign Getty Images Expand The California Civil Rights Council approved regulations taking effect on Oct that clarify that employers cannot use artificial intelligence AI and automated-decision systems ADSs to make hiring or employment decisions that discriminate against job applicants or employees based on their national origin sex pregnancy marital status disability or age Related Articles Walters California s bulk glaring issues have little to do with Trump Newsom signs landmark bill creating AI safety measures Lower electricity bills Or more garbage A new California law is sparking big debate Walters California lacks authority to enforce Newsom s ICE mask ban U S attorney DHS say ICE won t comply with California s new mask ban According to the council these automated-decision systems can exacerbate existing biases and contribute to discriminatory outcomes including hiring tools that reject women applicants by mimicking the existing features of a company s male-dominated workforce or a job advertisement delivery system that reinforces gender and racial stereotypes such as directing cashier ads to women and taxi jobs to Black workers Assembly Bill prohibits artificial intelligence systems from impersonating licensed healthcare professionals either directly though video calls or online chats or by using terms and conversational tones that imply a subject may be interacting with a human provider A law signed by Gov Gavin Newsom Sept temporarily rolls back the cannabis excise tax to until suspending an increase to levied earlier this year The law is meant to help dispensaries that proponents say are operating under slim margins due to being bogged down by years of overregulation Senate Bill which implements several labor related rules tied to the budget allows certain state employees who hold high-level managerial positions known as Career Executive Assignment to be eligible for Nonindustrial Disability Insurance for a disability period beginning on or after July Senate Bill also allows for construction contracts for the Golden Gate Bridge Seismic Retrofit Project awarded in to be exempt from stricter lead regulations that went into effect statewide on Jan The exemption was granted to prevent project delays as the seismic retrofit involves removing a large quantity of existing lead-based paint on the bridge Senate Bill also requires a million supplemental payment from the state s General Fund to the Community Employees Retirement Fund to help address the state s unfunded pension liabilities