Dozens of laws to take effect in California starting January 1st, 2020.

A new year and new laws that will go into effect here in California in 2020.

Consumer loans between $2,500 and $9,999 will have interest rates capped at 36 percent above the Federal Reserve's main interest rates. This law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2020, is intended to prevent predatory lending. SB-436 will extend the time childhood sexual abuse survivors have to report the abuse. When the law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2020, adults who survived childhood abuse will be allowed to file suits until they are 40 years old AB 375: Online privacy Want to know what information companies like Facebook or Google are collecting about you. The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) gives internet users more control over their data. Among other things, the law gives users the right to know what data is collected, the right to reject the sale of your information and the right to delete your data. Californians will have to wait 30 days between buying semi-automatic rifles. The SB-61 law will go into effect Jan. 1, 2020. AB-1061 goes into effect Jan. 1, 2020, and forces social workers and probation officers to give children a 14-day notice if their foster parents have requested a placement change. It also requires social workers to develop plans with foster families to avoid abrupt changes to a child's placement. SB 3: Minimum wage Another pay hike is on the way for minimum wage workers. The minimum wage in California goes up by one dollar to $12 an hour for workers at companies with 25 or fewer employees and to $13 an hour for workers at larger companies. AB 5: Independent workers While aimed directly at gig workers, this new law may also apply to many more contract or independent worker in California. Under AB-5, workers would be considered employees and not independent contractors if the employer controls the work, directs them in the course of their work or if the worker's job is part of a company's core business. No More Private Prisons Private prisons and immigration detention facilities will be phased out by 2028, thanks to AB-32. As of Jan. 1, 2020, California can't renew contracts with private prison companies. The law prohibits the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation from entering into or renewing contracts with private, for-profit prisons to incarcerate state prison inmates, but would not prohibit the department from renewing or extending a contract to house state prison inmates in order to comply with any court-ordered population cap. SB 188: Hairstyles California becomes the first state to ban workplace and school discrimination based on a person's natural hairstyle or hair texture. Protected hairstyles include braids, twists and locks. SB 142: Lactation accommodations While California has had a law requiring employers to provide breaks for nursing mothers, many were forced to express breast milk in a bathroom stall or office closet. This new law requires companies to provide appropriate lactation accommodations that is close to the employee's work area, has electrical plugs and is free of intrusion. AB 51: Arbitration agreements Starting January 1, workers can't be forced into mandatory arbitration by an employer. The law bans mandatory arbitration agreements with employees. The law does not apply to arbitration agreements entered into prior to January 1, 2020. SB 1343: Sexual harassment Requires businesses with at least five employees to provide sexual harassment training to its employees within six months of being hired, and every two years after that. SB 83: Paid family leave New parents will have more time to care for their child. Benefits under Paid Family Leave will increase from six weeks to eight weeks starting on July 1, 2020. SB-1127 law allows California schools to decide if parents can give their children medical marijuana on campus. Students would need a recommendation from a doctor, and the marijuana can't be stored on campus. Some parents administer medical marijuana to their children when they suffer from conditions such as epilepsy, and the law will make it easier for these families. AB 1482: Rent control Communities without their own rent control laws will now be covered by statewide rent control protections. The law limits rent increases to 5 percent each year plus inflation, but never above 10 percent total. The law does not apply to housing built in the 15 years prior. The limit is a rolling number so the date housing is excluded changes every year. AB 652: Religious displays You have more protections to display religious items like menorahs or crosses outside your home. The law prohibits landlords and homeowner associations from banning the display of religious items on entry doors or door frames. The items cannot be larger than 26 by 12 inches. SB 222: Housing discrimination This law expands existing law to protect veterans and military personnel against housing discrimination. SB-354 law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, 2020, allows Dreamers (young, undocumented youth who were brought to the U.S. as children) who want to get a graduate degree from a public university in California to be eligible for the Golden State's student loan program and in-state tuition. This gives Dreamers more opportunities to pursue graduate-level education. SB 30: Domestic partners What's good for same-sex couples is good for heterosexual couples. This law allows heterosexual couples to register as domestic partners instead of getting married. Currently, only heterosexual couples age 62 or older were allowed to register as domestic partners because of social security benefits. The new law could help couples with combined higher incomes avoid the federal marriage tax penalty. SB 419: School suspensions Students in elementary school can't be so easily suspended for causing trouble at school. The law bans schools from suspending students in grades 4-8 for disrupting school activities or defying teachers and administrators. Students in grades K-3 already have this protection. High school students must wait until 2025 for the same benefit. SB 104: Healthcare for undocumented immigrants California becomes the first state in the nation to offer government-subsidized health benefits to young adults living in the country illegally. The law expands the Medicaid program to include low-income adults age 25 or younger regardless of their immigration status. AB 2119: Transgender youth Transgender youth in the foster care system will get appropriate health care. The law is the first in the country to include access to gender-affirming medical services, mental health counseling, hormone therapy and surgery. SB 439: Juvenile hall This law changes the age that a minor can be sent to juvenile hall. Minors under 12 who commit non-violent crimes would be released to his or her parent or legal guardian instead of being sent to juvenile hall. The law does not apply to minors who commit murder, rape, or great bodily harm. SB 970: Human trafficking Operators of motels and hotels in California must provide training to teach its staff how to identify victims of human trafficking. SB 1249: Animal testing Prohibits the sale of cosmetic products with ingredients that were tested on animals after January 1, 2020. The law does not affect products sold globally where animal testing is required by law. AB 1762: Dog areas The California Department of Parks and Recreation has until July 1, 2020 to establish a comprehensive list of state parks that allow dogs, including the specific areas that allow dogs and the total miles of trails that are open to dogs. SB 167: Public safety power shutoffs Requires utilities like PG&E to devise plans on reducing the negative impact of planned power shutoffs to first responders and people with disabilities. AB 247: Tree trimming Gives the California Public Utilities Commission more oversight over tree trimming efforts by utilities. Power companies would have to submit timely reports on their brush and tree trimming work. A wildfire warning center to broaden the state's ability to predict and prepare for wildfire. The center would rely on a statewide network of automated weather stations and fire detection cameras.