Starting at the beginning of January 2018, many new laws will be going into effect in the state of California. 

• Cell phones while driving

• Californians are no longer allowed to use a handheld wireless phone or device while driving, unless the device is placed on the dashboard so that it doesn’t get in the way of the driver’s view of the road.

• Minimum Wage

• Minimum will increase from $10 an hour to $10.50 an hour for businesses with 25 or fewer employees and increase from $10.50 to $11 per hour for businesses with 26 or more employees. 

• Sexual assault clarification

• Sexually assaulting an unconscious or severely intoxicated person will become ineligible for probation.

• School mascots

• Beginning Jan. 1, California public schools will be banned from using the name “Redskins” for sports teams and mascots.

• Gender-neutral bathroom

• Beginning March 1, it is requires that all single-user toilet facilities in any business or public place to be all-gender facilities.

• Youth sports health protocol

• Youth sports organizations will be required to notify parents or guardians of athletes under 17  years old that have been removed from physical activity because of  suspected concussion.

• Recycled drinking water

• It will be highly encouraged to drink and allowed for Californians to drink recycled water (purified reused water).