New California laws going into effect in 2025

As we ring in the new year, Californians will no longer have to worry about toxic chemicals in our makeup, unnecessary plastic waste in the produce aisle, nor inescapable online subscriptions. In 2025, Californians can look forward to a number of new laws that CALPIRG helped pass going into effect.

Getting toxic chemicals out of makeup, clothes, and other products

Makeup, lotion, clothing and other products we use on our bodies shouldn’t contain toxic ingredients that put our health at risk. Nor should the products we have in our homes or use on our crops. Yet, many of these products have historically contained harmful chemicals like lead, mercury, formaldehyde and PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). This year, new laws go into effect that will protect Californians from these toxic chemicals.

AB 2672 (Muratsuchi, 2020) Getting toxic chemicals out of cosmetics

When we and our kids are getting ready in the morning, the last thing we should have to think about is whether the products we are putting on our faces are a risk to our health. The Toxic Free Cosmetics Act bans 24 of the most toxic ingredients found in cosmetics and personal care products, including mercury and formaldehyde.

AB 2771 (Friedman, 2022) Removing toxic “forever chemicals” from personal care products

The PFAS family of chemicals, also known as “forever chemicals,” have been linked to kidney and liver disease, immune system suppression, birth defects, and even cancer. They are sometimes called “forever chemicals” because they are nearly indestructible in the environment. This law prohibits companies from adding these harmful chemicals to cosmetics and personal care products.

AB 1817 (Ting, 2022) Getting toxic “forever chemicals” out of clothes 

Unfortunately, PFAS “forever chemicals” have also been present in many of the clothes we wear on our bodies each day. Because PFAS chemicals don’t break down easily, when we wash our clothes, these toxins can get into our environment and waterways. This law bans the sale of clothes, outdoor gear and other textiles containing toxic PFAS “forever chemicals.” 

AB 2208 (Kalra, 2022) Protecting consumers from toxic light bulbs

Fluorescent lamps contain mercury, a powerful toxin that can cause permanent damage to the central nervous system. Mercury exposure is especially dangerous to children. This law strengthens current efforts to protect consumers from toxic mercury exposure by preventing specific fluorescent lamps from being sold, allowing for better alternatives to light the way to a safer future. 

AB 363 (Bauer-Kahan, 2023) Protecting bees and our food supply

We depend on bees to pollinate about one-third of our food. They’re essential, and yet we’re poisoning them. This law will help save the bees by banning bee-killing pesticides called neonics from being used in lawns, gardens, and golf courses.

Protecting consumers from medical debt and unwanted subscription services

Consumers should be protected from unfair business practices. This July, several CALPIRG-backed laws go into effect that will increase consumer protections for Californians.

AB 1061 (Limón, 2024) Preventing medical debt from harming your credit score 

Medical debt doesn’t belong on credit reports. Unlike other types of debt, medical expenses are not something consumers can control. We have known for years that medical debt doesn’t predict credit defaults, and it doesn’t accurately predict a person’s desire and willingness to pay off loans. This law will prohibit medical debt on consumer credit reports, bringing California closer to a fair credit system that doesn’t penalize people for life events they can’t control, like getting sick. 

AB 2863 (Schiavo, 2024) Helping consumers leave unwanted subscription services

No one should be paying for a subscription they no longer want simply because a company has made it incredibly difficult to truly cancel it. It should be as simple to get out of a subscription as it is to get into one. With this law, Californians will now have the right to cancel online subscriptions with one click of the mouse. Businesses will also have to get a customer’s express consent before putting a bill on autopilot.

Reducing plastic waste

To reduce the plastic pollution littering our communities and harming our environment, we need to decrease the amount of plastic we produce in the first place and move away from unnecessary single-use plastic. One law going into effect this January does just that.

SB 1046 (Eggman, 2022) Banning plastic produce bags

Nothing we use for a few minutes should pollute our environment for hundreds of years. This law will finally phase out one of the most common, pervasive, and unnecessary forms of plastic waste: the plastic produce bag.

Here’s to a healthier, safer new year!