As July 1 approaches, a number of new laws affecting the Santa Clarita Valley are also coming into effect. 

Laws come into effect twice every year on Jan. 1 and July 1. 

Some of the new laws going into effect in California and Los Angeles County on Saturday, July 1, include:

Stricter regulations on the selling of goods related to firearms

AB 1594 is a law made by Assemblymember Phil Ting from San Francisco. It makes firearm manufacturers and distributors keep a close eye on the sale of firearm-related products. It also stops them from using unfair or illegal ways to advertise these products.

This new law lets state and local governments and people sue gun makers who don’t obey it.

A new law will start in six months in California. This law lets people sue gun dealers and others who break the state’s laws against making and selling banned guns, like assault weapons. It comes after another law that allowed residents to sue for the same thing.

The majority of criminal records are subject to automatic sealing.

With the passage of SB 731, California becomes the first state to automatically seal the majority of arrest and criminal records for those who serve their time and don’t commit repeat offenses. 

Once a sentence has been served and four years have passed without another conviction, the law will automatically seal the criminal records. 

The arrest record of someone who was not convicted will also be sealed. 

Serious and violent offenses, as well as convictions requiring sex offender registration, will not automatically qualify for sealing of criminal records. 

Background checks for education, law enforcement, or public office positions will still reveal criminal histories.

The provision of housing in commercial areas, transit corridors and employment opportunities.

Numerous housing and homelessness-related laws were signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2022, but state officials singled out AB 2011 and SB 6 as being critical.

 The two pieces of legislation will aid with the construction of new low- and middle-income housing on underutilized commercial properties zoned for retail, parking, or office space, as well as homes close to current transit or where future transit projects will be developed, according to Newsom’s office,

The two pieces of legislation will also strengthen pay and health benefit requirements for contractors who build dwellings and encourage them to provide apprenticeships.

Educators paying back “overpayments” on retirement plans

CalSTRS, the teachers’ state retirement system, or district officials overestimated the retirement benefits of thousands of educators, and when audits were conducted, some of them were required to repay some of the benefits.

According to AB 1667, instructors will not be required to repay overpayments found in audit reports created after 2023, but there is no option to help teachers whose overpayments were found in the past.

Online vendors will have to provide additional details.

Through SB 301, online marketplaces will be required to preserve more records regarding third-party vendors who produce a “high volume” of sales, including contact details, a bank account number, or the name of the payee who is handling the transactions.

Online marketplaces will also need to maintain track of any updates made to the data that third-party merchants give. A civil fine of up to $10,000 might be imposed for every instance in which the new law is broken.

Allowing electronic filing of certain restraining orders

With the passage of AB 2960, more documentation connected to restraining orders against domestic violence or gun violence can be filed electronically.

The law would also mandate that acts and data related to these petitions, including the initial request, details regarding court dates, copies of the request, and temporary restraining orders, be accessible electronically.

It will also be necessary to disseminate information on how to access and submit restraining orders on the websites of the court or the courthouse.

The concept of forgiveness pertaining to interest associated with unclaimed property.

AB 2280 is a different statute that also takes effect in July, but it depends on the Legislature putting financing in the Budget Act, which is still being prepared.

According to the law, if the owner can show a justifiable failure to disclose the asset and takes part in training and a review of books and records, the state Controller’s office may develop a procedure to waive interest charges on unclaimed property.

The term “unclaimed property” refers to financial assets like stocks, dividends, and uncashed paychecks that have not been fully resolved between the payee and the owner. As a result, the state receives the assets until they are claimed, at which point they are subject to state income taxes as well as interest.

Bounty hunter requirements 

AB 2043 mandates training, licensing, and registration with the state for bounty hunters, who bail bond firms and organizations employ to look for people who skip their court dates.

Although the California Department of Insurance regulates the bail industry and bail agents, bounty hunters, also known as bail fugitive recovery persons, have not historically been required to hold a license.

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