New Developments In California Business Law: What Businesses Need to Know In 2019
Business laws are constantly changing no matter where you live, and California law is no exception. If you own a business in California or are planning on starting one there, it’s important to stay up to date on all the changes. From gender representation and harassment laws, to wage increases, to new laws aimed at helping the environment, California business is undergoing quite a bit of change this year. Read below to learn about the most important new developments in California business law, and what they could mean for you!
Gender Representation on Boards of Directors
One huge new development in California law is their new gender requirements for corporations based in California. SB 826 requires every publicly-held corporation in California to have at least one woman on their board of directors.
Corporations will be required to comply by the end of 2019 and can add an additional board member to fill this requirement. This means they don’t have to fire anyone to meet the requirement.
SB 826 will also require a larger representation for bigger corporations. Any corporation with six or more directors must have at least three women, a corporation with five must have at least two women, and any with four or below must have one.
This requirement does not need to be met until December 31, 2021, giving larger companies a bit more time to comply.
Wage Laws
While SB 3 isn’t a new law, the minimum wage act that was signed in 2016 has another mandatory increase that went into effect at the beginning of the year.
Employers in California with 25 or fewer employees must pay them at least $11.00 per hour, while minimum wage for companies with 26 or more employees increases to $12.00 per hour. This also increases minimum salary requirements to $3,813.33 per month for companies with 25 or fewer employees and $4,160 per month for companies with 26 or more.
Laws Affecting Food and Hospitality
There are a number of new laws that affect business in the food and hospitality industries.
Restaurants that offer kids’ meals must now make milk or water the default choice. Soda can still be offered if requested. This law was enacted to help curb childhood obesity.
In an effort to help save our suffering environment, plastic straws are now prohibited in full-service restaurants unless a customer requests it.
It is no longer illegal to sell homemade food in public. This allows for small home cooking operations to live on.
Need More Help with California Business Law?
These are only a few of the many new California business laws that went into effect this year. Other laws include the restriction of firearm sales to those 21 and older and a plethora of important new sexual harassment laws in the wake of the #metoo movement.
If you need more help understanding business laws in California, The Law Offices of Lisa Wills is here to help. From business to real estate to construction, we cover anything your business may need. Contact us today!
