8 New CA Laws That Will Impact Your Wallet in 2025

CALIFORNIA — When Californians ring in the new year on Wednesday, they'll also be welcoming a number of new laws impacting thier spending.

From a ban on certain bank fees to changes to food-delivery app charges, many of the laws address common financial headaches — both large and small — that afflict consumers on a regular basis.

Here's a rundown of eight new laws that will impact Californians' wallets in 2025:

Food Delivery App Reform

Under SB 1490, food delivery platforms will be required to offer an itemized breakdown of fees to consumers and allow restaurants to remove themselves from the platforms.

The law takes effect Jan. 1.

Certain Bank Fees Banned

Under AB 2017, certain banks and credit unions (state-chartered ones) will be banned from charging customers a fee when they try to withdraw money from an ATM and the transaction is declined due to insufficient funds.

The law goes into effect Jan. 1.

Paid Family Leave Expansion

Under AB 2123, employers will no longer be allowed to require that employees use their accrued vacation time before accessing the state's Paid Family Leave Program. Previously, employers could require employees take up to two weeks of vacation time before accessing the leave.

The state-run program provides benefits to people taking time off to care for a family member, spend time with a new child or assist military family members under active duty.

The law goes into effect Jan. 1.

Late-Payment Protection For Freelancers

Under SB 988, companies will be required to pay freelancers by a date specified in their contracts — or, if no date is specified, no later than 30 days after the contractor renders their services.

The law goes into effect Jan. 1.

Medical Debt Excluded From Credit Reports

Under SB 1061, medical debt will be removed from consumers' credit reports to ensure that people are "not penalized for the high costs of necessary healthcare," Newsom's office said. The law will also prohibit using medical debt that happens to be listed on a credit report as a negative factor against consumers.

"No Californian should be unable to secure housing, a loan, or even a job because they accessed necessary medical care," the bill's author, Sen. Monique Limón, said.

This law takes effect Jan. 1.

Easier Cancelation Of Subscriptions

There will be no more needing to navigate phone trees and pushy customer service reps in order to cancel subscriptions under AB 2863, which requires that companies allow consumers to cancel their subscription through the same medium or method a person used to subscribe.

The Federal Trade Commission also mirrored the Golden State's new law in October, enacting a similar click-to-cancel policy to crack down on companies offering continuous subscriptions for gyms, streaming services and more.

The state law goes into effect July 1.

Fertility Treatments Will Be Covered By Insurance

In response to political tension around women's reproductive rights over the past year, SB 729 was penned to strengthen access to fertility treatments and diagnoses as well as in-vitro fertilization, which is commonly called IVF.

The law will require insurance companies to provide coverage for such treatments. Access will also be expanded to LGBTQ+ families.

"It's simple: everyone who wants to should be able to start a family — without going broke," Newsom said.

Earlier this year, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos created and stored for IVF are children, a decision that many feared could limit fertility treatments in the state and spur more implications nationwide.

"As Republicans across the country continue to claw back rights and block access to IVF – all while calling themselves ‘the party of families’ – we are proud to help every Californian make their own choices about the family they want," Newsom said.

This law takes effect on July 1, 2025.

Sick Days When Wildfires Are Burning

Farmworkers will be allowed to use sick time in the event of "smoke, heat, or flooding conditions created by a local or state emergency," such as when a wildfire is burning.

SEE ALSO:

17 New California Laws That Will Change Your Life In 2025

4 New CA Traffic Laws Every Driver Should Know Before 2025