New California Laws Taking Effect in 2025

Laws taking effect in 2025 will expand California’s supports for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking.

SACRAMENTO — As the new year soon begins, California continues its forward momentum with a new set of laws signed by Governor Newsom that improve the health, safety, and well-being of all Californians. This release is part of a rolling series from the Governor’s Office, showcasing a cross-section of laws taking effect in 2025. 

Supporting more survivors and strengthening safety 

• Protecting California youth: SB 1414by Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) toughens penalties for adults who solicit or exploit minors — increasing the circumstances when offenders face mandatory felony charges and/or must register as a sex offender to help safeguard California communities.

• Strengthening law enforcement training: SB 989 by Senator Angelique Ashby (D-Sacramento) improves how authorities investigate deaths that might involve domestic violence, enabling more families to get answers about loved ones’ deaths.  

• Improving response to human trafficking survivors: AB 2020 by Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) requires the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) to create guidelines for law enforcement personnel when working with survivors of human trafficking, making sure survivors get consistent, compassionate support.

• Emergency room protections: SB 963by Senator Angelique Ashby (D-Sacramento) helps make sure that victims of domestic violence or human trafficking can safely and confidentially self-identify themselves to trained hospital staff that can privately connect them with local support services. This means trained professionals will be available to help at any emergency department in California, with safety, individual privacy, and choices respected every step of the way.

• Raising awareness at major events: AB 1966 by Assemblymember Laurie Davies (R-Oceanside) requires venues hosting major events to provide human trafficking awareness information and reporting resources to help identify and stop trafficking in communities.

• Funding victim services: AB 2432 by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) creates the California Crime Victims Fund, helping to guarantee more consistent resources for survivors. It also directs fines from corporate white-collar crimes into this fund — giving victims extra support when they need it most.

• Making protective orders more accessible and effective: SB 554by Senator Dave Cortese (D-Campbell) makes it possible for survivors to file for protection wherever they feel safest – whether that’s near their home or where they’ve relocated for safety. AB 2024 by Assemblymember Blanca Pacheco (D-Downey) streamlines the filing process for restraining orders, while AB 2308 by Assemblymember Laurie Davies (R-Oceanside) extends domestic violence protective orders for up to 15 years.

Cracking down on retail theft and property crime

Among the most significant changes coming in 2025 is California’s landmark package to combat property and retail crime – the most substantial legislation of its kind in modern state history.

Aggregation

• AB 2943 by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Los Angeles) allows aggregation of the value of property stolen from different victims or in different counties in order to reach the felony grand theft threshold of $950. 

• SB 905 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) allowsaggregation of the value of property stolen from vehicles over multiple acts, in order to charge a person with automotive property theft for resale.

Shoplifting and petty theft

• AB 2943. Allows an officer with probable cause to arrest a person for shoplifting, even if the act did not take place in the officer’s presence. 

• AB 2943. Doubles permissible probation period for shoplifting and for petty theft from one year to two years. Allows defendants under 25 to be referred to rehabilitative programs.

•  AB 3209 by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Palo Alto) allows a court to issue a “retail theft restraining order” prohibiting a person convicted of organized retail theft, shoplifting, theft, vandalism, or assault of a retail employee from entering the establishment, or other locations of the same establishment, for up to two years.

Retail and Cargo theft

• AB 2943. Creates a new crime punishable by up to three years in jail, for possessing more than $950 of stolen goods with intent to sell, exchange, or return the goods. Facilitates prosecution by eliminating the need for DAs to prove that a defendant knew the goods were stolen.
• AB 1802 by Assemblymember Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles) eliminates the sunset date for the crime of organized retail theft and the sunset date for the highly-successful regional property crimes task force.

• AB 2943. Extends, until January 1, 2031, a law that prevents suspects of organized retail theft from being released with just a signed promise to appear in court.

• SB 1416 by Senator Josh Newman (D-Grand Terrace) mandates sentencing enhancements for large-scale resale of property.

• AB 1972 by Assemblymember Juan Alanis (R-Modesto) adds cargo theft to the list of property crimes that regional property crimes task forces may address.

Increased penalties for smash & grabs

• SB 1242 by Senator Dave Min (now Member-elect of the U.S. House of Representatives) mandates higher penalties for thieves who set fires to facilitate organized retail theft.

• AB 1960 by Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) establishes mandatory sentencing enhancements for taking, damaging, or destroying property over $50K during the commission of a felony.

Vehicle theft & online sales

• SB 905 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco). Removes the locked door loophole for automotive property thefts.

• SB 1144 by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Alameda) requires online platforms to collect information about all “high-volume third-party sellers,” in order to combat fencing of stolen goods.

Government response

• AB 1779 by Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) permits the consolidation of theft charges and associated offenses occurring in different counties into a single criminal case.

• AB 2943. Protects retailers from being cited or fined for repeatedly reporting retail theft.

Why it matters: These reforms make it easier for survivors to access protection, strengthen enforcement tools, and ensure support services are available when needed.

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