Law is a dynamic and evolving field. It can change from one quarter to the next, depending on what issues or trends are occurring in society at that moment. That is why it is important for those who work in the legal industry to remain aware of all changes that occur and how they may affect their business. One of the latest trends that is impacting the legal world is new law, a concept that can be difficult to pin down but has many facets that are important to those who want to stay on top of their game.
New Laws
A new law is any legislation passed by a government or created by a court of justice, and includes the New York Constitution, laws passed by the state legislature and periodically codified in the New York Consolidated Laws, as well as decisions by courts that interpret existing laws. The new law process begins with the proposal of policy by the government or a member of the public, followed by discussion and debate in Parliament and the drafting of a bill. The bill is then sent to the cabinet, which reviews and approves it before it is presented to Parliament for approval.
If a bill is approved, it becomes law. This process is different in each country and in each political branch of the government. For example, in the United States, the bill is then sent to Congress, where it is voted on by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. After each chamber has voted on the bill, it is then sent to a committee whose members research and discuss it, make changes and vote again. Then, if the bill passes both chambers of Congress, it is signed by the president to become law.
There are several new laws that have taken effect in the state of California on July 1, including recognizing Juneteenth as an official holiday, adding penalties for firearm industry responsibility, streamlining the construction of affordable housing and more. Learn more by reading the full list of new laws that took effect in California this week below, or search and filter laws by year on our New Laws page.