Street vendors in Sacramento County will have to follow new regulations. What are they?
The Sacramento Board of Supervisors approved the new regulations on January 28 in response to growing health and food safety concerns. The forthcoming regulations will implement a penalty system for street-side vendors without required credentials. If a vendor operates without a permit, they could be subject to a $250 fine which increases per violation. Unpermitted vendors will be charged $500 if they operate without a license a second time. The California Restaurant Association expressed concerns about the ordinance. While in support of more regulation for street vendors, Marlon Lara, the organization’s legislative director, said the county should prioritize monitoring pop-up kitchens, which they say spread “foodborne illness and (pose) the greatest public safety risk.”
How California’s New Laws Will Impact Bars and Restaurants in 2025
Several new 2025 laws relating to the food and restaurant industry – here are the biggest new laws that will impact California’s restaurants and bars:
Formation of entertainment zones – restaurants can also sell alcoholic beverages that customers can consume on public streets and sidewalks that are within the entertainment zones.
Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes – cannabis businesses can now prepare and sell nonalcoholic and non-psychoactive drinks like coffee or soda that can be consumed on-site.
Farmworker unionization – AB 2240 aims to create more stable housing for farmworkers, which helps avoid disruptions caused by seasonal work and keeps children enrolled in the same schools. The country’s housing shortage also applies to farmworkers, and AB 3035 makes it easier to build farmworker housing.
Paid family leave – California’s eligible workers earning less than $63,000 a year can receive up to 90 percent of their regular wages while on paid family leave, while workers earning above that threshold will receive 70 percent.
Fast food worker’s wages – fast-food workers must be paid at least $20 an hour under AB 1228.
Polystyrene foam phase-out – bans the production of polystyrene containers, more commonly known as Styrofoam, for takeout. Producers of the foam containers can seek an exemption from the ban by proving that at least 25 percent of their products are recyclable
Trump Cabinet nominee says she’ll work to kill California pork law
The pork industry is hoping President Donald Trump’s administration will help it fight back against California’s Proposition 12, a voter-approved initiative that bans the sale of meat from pigs held in small cages. ut with Republicans now controlling Congress as well as the White House, pork producers heard encouraging words last week from agriculture secretary nominee Brooke Rollins, who served in Trump’s first administration and currently heads the America First Policy Institute. Under a proper system of government, “we don’t have states telling our producers how they can raise their livestock,” Rollins told Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, at her confirmation hearing in the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. Prop 12, she said, is “not just affecting California. It’s affecting multitudes of other states.”
Trump will change the face of US food policy. These are the players to watch
As Donald Trump returns to the White House, food and agriculture policy are shaping up to be key pieces of his agenda. To start to understand how he might tackle these issues, this article digs into industry ties and policy backgrounds of his senior officials and nominated cabinet members, who have varied positions on food and agriculture. The way they handle immigration, labor, environmental regulations and the social safety net will shape how Americans eat for the next four years.
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CA RESTAURANT FOUNDATION Take a Tour of the CA ProStart Cup!
Join us for a special tour of the CA ProStart Cup on February 24 and 25 in Los Angeles. Talented high school students from across the state compete in culinary arts and pitch a restaurant concept to industry judges. Don’t miss this chance to see future industry leaders in action—RSVP for a 1-hour tour today with Foundation staff!
NEW CRA PODCAST EPISODE Safeguarding California Workplaces in Crisis: Wildfire Workplace Safety
In this episode, we examine the impact of wildfires on workplace safety and air quality in California. Join CRA Legal Partners Christine Long and Vance Piggott as they discuss compliance with wildfire smoke regulations and effective strategies for employers to protect their teams. Gain insights on preparation and building a resilient workplace culture during natural disasters.
CRA MEMBER SHOUT OUT Owners of Whitey's Jolly Kone opening Emile's Cafe in West Sacramento
Cheers to the CRA members and the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund recipients for opening a new location in West Sacramento. We are excited to see you building resilience through the expansion of your family business.
