A wave of new California laws take effect on Tuesday, July 1. The laws bring changes that touch on everything from updated rules about health insurance and mental health to rules on retail theft and rental cleaning fees.

Div. One of the First District Court of Appeal has held that voters cannot override a state law providing that the U.S. flag must be “placed in the position of first honor” on all public poles by passing a city initiative mandating that an “Earth” pennant be flown above all others on municipal sites, finding that the measure is preempted.

A consumer advocacy group suing Walmart Inc. under Proposition 65 for allegedly failing to warn that items offered for sale by the retail giant contained chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm is not bound by an agreement to arbitrate purportedly entered into by the organization’s agent who purchased the offending products, Div. One of the First District Court of Appeal held yesterday.

A legislative push to create an expedited licensing path for former federal attorneys has been shelved for the year, even as multiple reform efforts continue in response to a troubled bar exam and mounting criticism of the California State Bar's governance.