Starting January 1, 2023, California began implementing several recently approved bills and laws.

   According to The New York Times, “Companies with 15 or more employees are now required to list salary ranges for all job postings under a new law aimed at reducing systemic pay inequities. The rule brings California in line with Washington, Colorado, and Connecticut, which have passed similar wage transparency laws” (nytimes.com).

   As per KTLA5,  the Feather Alert System, Assembly Bill 1314, signed by Newsome in 2022,  “…creates a system similar to Amber Alert but for indigenous people who have gone missing ‘under unexplained or suspicious circumstances.’” The California Highway Patrol explained that the system went into effect on January 1 (ktla.com).

   The Calmatters website said, “Stores will be banned from charging a different price based on gender and would be in the crosshairs of the attorney general’s office for any violations. Advocacy groups say that ending the ‘pink tax’ is another step in the cause of gender equity” (calmatters.org).

  “In 2019, California became the first state to ban fur when Newsom signed a law prohibiting the sale of new clothing and accessories made of fur. That law, which followed similar provisions in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Berkeley, finally took effect this month,” according to the New York Times (nytimes.com).

   KTLA5 said, “Newsom signed several new state holidays into law in September including Genocide Remembrance Day (April 24), Juneteenth (June 19) Lunar New Year (on the second or third new moon following the winter solstice), and Native American Day (fourth Friday of September)” (ktla.com).

   Furthermore, The New York Times announced that, “As of this month [January], jaywalking is no longer a crime in the Golden State” (nytimes.com).

   Junior Carly Cima said, “I think the new legalization of jaywalking is ultimately beneficial to California residents. Some may argue that it may be unsafe for pedestrians, but people have been jaywalking before this law was passed. If anything, now it’s safer because drivers are more prepared to expect the possibility of jaywalkers crossing.”

   Cima said, “Not having to walk to a crosswalk to get where you are going makes it much more appealing to simply walk to your destination instead of driving. Ultimately, I do agree with the decision to legalize jaywalking and think it will have a positive impact on California.”

   According to the state of California DMV, they will begin offering, “…alternatives to Conventional License Plates, Stickers, Tabs, and Registration Cards. The DMV will create a new ongoing program that allows entities to issue alternatives such as digital license plates, vinyl front license plate wraps and digital registration cards. Since 2015, the current pilot program has enrolled more than 19,000 customers for digital license plates, more than 5,000 customers for vinyl license plates and less than 100 customers for e-registration” (dmv.ca.gov).