In California, doctors who send abortion pills to patients in different states will not face legal consequences. Employees will now have increased paid sick leave following a successful year for labor. Additionally, workers cannot be terminated for consuming marijuana outside of work.

These are some of the many laws that will go into effect on January 1st in the state with the highest population in the country.

Every year, the Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, approves hundreds of laws that have been passed by the state’s Legislature. These laws usually go into effect on January 1st of the following year. However, there are instances where lawmakers choose to postpone the effective date of a law for various reasons, such as allowing people more time to get ready for the changes.

In 2023, the Legislature passed significant bills that will not be implemented immediately. On April 1, fast food workers will receive a minimum wage increase to $20 per hour. Beginning on June 1, health care workers will also see an increase in their minimum wage. However, laws mandating businesses to disclose their emissions and financial vulnerabilities related to climate change will not be enforced until 2026.

A federal judge halted the implementation of a law that would have prohibited individuals from carrying firearms in the majority of public spaces.

In the year 2023, the California Legislature approved 1,046 pieces of legislation. Out of those bills, 890 were signed into law by Newsom. According to data collected by experienced lobbyist Chris Micheli, 156 bills were vetoed, making up 14.9% of the total.

Here are some of the recently implemented laws that Californians must adhere to:

Certain drug screenings do not indicate a person’s current level of intoxication, but rather if they have consumed marijuana within a certain timeframe. In light of the legalization of recreational marijuana in California in 2016, lawmakers believed it was unjust for employers to penalize employees based on these test results. A recently passed law, effective this year but enacted in 2022, prohibits companies from punishing workers solely for failing these types of drug tests. However, there are exemptions for construction workers and businesses required to conduct drug tests as part of federal agreements.

California offers a temporary disability program that provides financial support to individuals who are unable to work due to a non-work related illness, injury, or pregnancy. The program is financed through a 1.1% wage tax. Previously, this tax was only applicable to wages below a specific threshold, approximately $153,000 in 2023. However, a recent law passed in 2022 and effective this year has removed the wage limit. As a result, individuals earning over $153,000 annually will now be subject to the 1.1% tax on their entire income.

Abortion is now illegal in 14 states after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. But doctors and pharmacists in California who mail abortion pills to patients in those states will be shielded from prosecution or fines. The law bans bounty hunters or bail agents from apprehending California doctors and taking them to another state to stand trial. It even prohibits state-based social media companies, such as Facebook, from complying with out-of-state subpoenas, warrants or other requests for records to discover the identity of patients seeking abortion pills.

California employees will now be entitled to a minimum of five days of sick leave per year, up from three. This will be earned after 200 days of employment. Supporters argue that this change will help reduce the spread of illness by allowing sick employees to stay home. However, critics argue that it will add to the financial strain on employers and may lead to some employees falsely claiming sick leave.

Residents of Mexico with low incomes who live within 45 miles (72 kilometers) of the California-Mexico border will now have the opportunity to pay in-state tuition rates at select community colleges in Southern California, thanks to a new law signed by Newsom. This law is seen as a way to alleviate the financial strain on students seeking education and training to prepare for their careers. It is similar to a program in the state that allows up to 200 Nevada residents living in designated areas near the California-Nevada border to also receive in-state tuition rates at Lake Tahoe Community College.

Foster families will be required to demonstrate their ability to meet the health and safety needs of children regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. It was one of several bills the Legislature passed this year to expand protections for LGBTQ+ youth. Newsom vetoed another high-profile bill that would have required courts to consider whether a parent affirms their child’s gender identity in custody and visitation proceedings.

Religious organizations and nonprofit universities in California now have the option to convert their parking lots and other properties into low-cost housing. This new legislation allows them to bypass many local regulations and environmental reviews, and is one of several efforts to combat the homelessness issue in California. Those in favor of the law believe it will provide another means to create necessary housing in the state, while critics argue that it undermines local authority over housing projects.

Last year, legislators in California put forth numerous bills in an effort to combat the high number of fentanyl-related deaths, which currently stand at approximately 110 per week. However, only one of these measures, which targets drug dealers, was approved by Governor Newsom. This law imposes harsher punishments for dealers found in possession of more than 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of fentanyl. Additionally, Newsom signed bills that mandate stadiums and amusement parks to have overdose reversal drugs on hand, and require community colleges and California State University campuses to distribute fentanyl test strips.

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Sophie Austin is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Follow Austin on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter: @sophieadanna