New Laws for 2025
“All legislation starts off as an idea”
By Christina Reed
The Hired Pen
*This is Part One of New Laws for 2025. Look for Part Two in the upcoming issue of The Sierra Reader.
“All legislation starts off as an idea”—California Assembly.ca.gov
Eastern California—California’s Governor Gavin Newsom signed more than 1,000 legislative bills into laws, and these important new laws for 2025 (most taking effect January 1, 2025) are some of those which have more impact on Eastern California.
The legislative process, which precedes all of these new laws, begins at either the State Assembly or State Senate, as an idea. This notion is found to have worth, and is drafted into a written /body/document, which can be investigated through committees, and then approved through the bicameral / two houses of the legislature. The upper house is the Senate, with 40 members; two-year term; 12-year term limit, and the lower house is the Assembly, with 80 members: four-year term; 12-year term limit. The end result, of the approved bill (a vetoed bill does not become law) is to be signed into law, by the current governor of the State of California. Currently, our region’s State Senator, District #4, is Marie Alverado-Gil, and our State Assemblymember, District #8, is David Tangipa.
Some more pertinent new laws to follow: AB (Assembly Bill) and SB (Senate Bill). AB or SB stands for which house the bill came up through; where the legislation went from an idea, to an authored bill, and finally, an idea, which the governor signs into a law.
AB 413 The “Daylighting” law pertains to pedestrian safety, and eliminating blind spots in our communities. Essentially, the law says this, you need to leave 20 feet (roughly one car length) in front of where you are parking, on roadways, when there’s a corner nearby, and where pedestrians typically cross. Like around school zones. And, this law applies to places not painted red.
Bishop’s Police Chief, Nate Derr, took some time to discuss some of the new laws, like AB 413, with The Sierra Reader, at the end of 2024. Chief Derr says the police department’s approach to the new parking law is “educating” the public, and “warning.” “Complaints” and “calls” are also ways the police department approaches enforcement.
The Chief also notes that existing parking laws, like the 72-hour continuous parking on public roadways, parking your vehicle, boat, trailer, or recreational vehicle more than three days is against the law, and enforced in Bishop. We are also reminded, by Chief Derr, to be heads up for “crimes of opportunity,” such as stealing unattended property, or leaving items out for others looking for an easy target. Along this line, SB 905, eliminates the “locked door loophole,” which used to require a prosecutor to prove doors were locked for a burglary or theft violation.
Finally, a reminder of an important state law, SB 54 (signed into law in 2017), which prevents local law enforcement from investigating, or arresting migrants from immigration violations. This law prevents cooperation with ICE (Immigration Customs Enforcement). No civil immigration enforcement in the state of California.
*Next issue of The Sierra Reader, Part Two of New Laws for 2025, and a look at new laws for Education, Firearms, Housing, Employment, a nod to Paris Hilton’s “teens’ restraint law,” and the Hollywood AI laws….
¡Enhorabuena!