New gas tax takes effect today along with a few other new laws.
The new laws cover an array of topics -- from guns and student loans to distracted driving. One of them is a policy that limits purchases to one handgun in 30 days -- now including semiautomatic center fire rifles. Also, California is now required to offer new protections to student loan borrowers, and two texting-and-driving convictions within a three-year period will now result in a point on a driver's record. The laws take effect today because July 1st marks the start of the fiscal year.
The latest increase comes at a time when California continues to pay among the highest prices in the nation for a gallon of gas, according to AAA.