In 2019, California became the first state to pass the CROWN Act—short for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. This legislation prohibits discrimination based on natural hair textures and protective...more
New state laws impacting employers will be going into effect on January 1, 2025. Below is a non-exhaustive summary of major state laws taking effect January 1, 2025. Employers should be mindful of and continue to follow...more
The California Legislature has enacted several new laws that will impact the workplace in 2025. This Holland & Knight alert provides a brief summary of select employment laws that go into effect Jan. 1, 2025, unless stated...more
New California employment laws are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2025. These laws address a variety of issues, including the state minimum wage, discrimination protections, paid time off, and employers’ messages...more
In the spirit of the season, we are using our annual "12 Days of California Labor and Employment" blog series to address new California laws and their impact on employers. On the third day of the holidays, my labor and...more
In 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom signed several bills impacting California employers, which go into effect on January 1, 2025. We discuss the most notable new laws affecting employers below. Increased Minimum Wage - As the...more
On September 27, 2024, Governor Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 1137, which clarifies that the Unruh Civil Rights Act, the provisions of the Education Code prohibiting discrimination in public education, and the California...more
On February 14, 2024, California State Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas introduced Senate Bill 1137 (“SB 1137”), a bill that would make California the first state to specifically recognize the concept of “intersectionality.”...more
Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill earlier this month that would have made California the first state to ban caste-based discrimination. Senate Bill No. 403 would have expanded the definition of “ancestry” under the California...more
On September 5, 2023, the California legislature passed Senate Bill 403 (“SB-403”), paving the way for a state-wide ban on caste discrimination to be signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom....more
California is one step closer to becoming the first state to enact legislation banning caste-based discrimination. Senate Bill (SB) No. 403 adds caste to the list of characteristics protected by the California Fair Employment...more
There have been reports of violence and harassment, particularly in the Asian-American community, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The California Fair Employment and Housing Act and Unruh Civil Rights Act prohibit employers from...more
Decision Comes in Short-Term Rental Ordinance Litigation - California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, which prohibits a business establishment from discriminating in housing or other accommodations, does not apply to an...more