Dec 31, 2024
2025 California Legislature Enacted Laws
AB 1048 Dental Benefits and Rate Review
From the Bill AB 1048
This bill, on and after January 1, 2025, would prohibit a health care service plan or health insurer that covers dental services, including a specialized health care service plan or health insurer that covers dental services, from issuing, amending, renewing, or offering a plan contract or policy that imposes a dental waiting period provision or preexisting condition provision, as specified. Because a violation of these requirements by a health care service plan would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Under SECTION 1. 1374.194
(b) On and after January 1, 2025, a plan shall not issue, amend, renew, or offer a plan contract that imposes a dental waiting period provision in a large group plan or preexisting condition provision for any plan.
(c) This section does not apply to Medi-Cal dental managed care contracts authorized under Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000) and Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 14200) of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
AB 1048 also requires dental carriers to report rate information to state regulators annually, beginning on or after January 1, 2025
Amwins Connect October 2024 Article
Minimum Wage Increases
Increased January 1, 2025 to $16.50/hour for all employers (up from $16/hour). Exempt employees in California must be paid a minimum annual salary of $68,640 or $5,720 monthly.
AB 2499 Paid Sick Day Use by Victims of Violence
AB 2499 expands the workplace protections for employees who are victims of crime or abuse. The law, as amended, requires employers to provide time off for victims of "qualifying acts of violence," which includes domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, or any act, conduct or pattern of conduct that includes
- bodily injury or death to another,
- brandishing, exhibiting, or drawing a firearm or other dangerous weapon, or
- a perceived or actual threat to use force against another to cause physical injury or death.
A qualifying act of violence permits time off regardless of whether anyone is arrested for, prosecuted for or convicted of any crime.
Under the new law, employers are prohibited from retaliating or discriminating against employees who utilize time off under this section or participate in the legal process. The amendment also provides leave to any employee who has a family member, including children, parents, grandparents, grandchildren, siblings, spouses, domestic partners or other designated person who is a victim of a qualifying act of violence.
AB 2123 Paid Family Leave
AB 2123 will eliminate an employer's ability to require an employee to use accrued paid time off (PTO) before using California Paid Family Leave (PFL). PFL is a state-run program providing benefits to individuals taking time off to care for a seriously ill child, spouse, parent or domestic partner, bond with a new minor child, or assist military family members under active duty.
Previously, employers could require employees to take up to two weeks of accrued vacation before accessing PFL benefits. As of January 1, 2025, this option will be eliminated.
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