July 1 is the date in boilerplate legislation for an effective date.  So, in the next few weeks we’ll have several new, enforceable laws.  Some highlights from the LA Daily News:

  SCHOOL JUNK FOOD BAN: School districts will have to ban soda and limit fat and sugar content and portion size of meals.

PLASTIC BAG RECYCLING: Supermarkets will have to provide ways for customers to turn in plastic bags for recycling and to provide reusable bags as alternatives to plastic.

BEVERAGE RECYCLING: The deposit charged on bottles and cans, and refunded to those who recycle them, will increase by a penny.(LA Daily News 6/20/07)

Most of these laws were passed in the 2005 session, so not much of major consequense happened.  This was during Arnold’s Super-partisan phase.  Much of the post-partisan 2006 legislation will go into effect July 2008. 

For you cell phone addicts, that includes the hands-free requirement.  You know, I supported that legislation, because it is a good start, but it doesn’t go far enough. Even talking hands-free leaves you as dangerous as a drunk driver, or so says a University of Utah study. So, people, do me a favor, stop texting while driving (I’m talking to you guy on I-80 near Vallejo who started drifting into my lane) and stop talking (I’m talking to you Chatty McChatkins who thought it was totally cool to drive 100 mph weaving through traffic while on the cell phone just west of Sacramento) and drive. Seriously, that requires enough attention.  As MADD says, Arrive Alive.

Ok, end cell phone rant…