In an attempt to improve sexual assaults investigations in college and university campuses, the California legislature passed a law that defines what constitutes as consensual sex for universities and colleges.

Lawmakers passed the bill on Thursday, according to Reuters, paving the way for a new way in which sexual assault charges and investigations are treated within higher education campuses.

Following the flurry of news and investigations on sexual assaults in college campuses nationwide and their alleged mishandled investigations, activists have worked towards changing the ways colleges investigate sexual assaults.

Reuters reports that the new law would change the previously understood mantra of "no means no" to "yes means yes." The law awaiting Governor Jerry Brown's signature defines consensual sexual encounters as "an affirmative, conscious and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity".

In other words, a person has to explicitly agree to have sexual relations. Governor Brown, a Democrat, has until the end of September to sign the bill into law, in which case it would become the nation's first state to require higher education institutions to recognize and implement this language.

"Sexual assaults are too common on our campuses, and the need for change is now," Assemblyman Jimmy Lopez, D-Los Angeles, told the Associated Press.

Bill SB967, as it is officially known, passed the state senate unanimously and passed the state assembly with a 52-16 vote. The law was introduced by state Sen. Kevin De Leon, D-Los Angeles, and will affect all public and private colleges that receive financial aid, reports the AP.

No university or college in the state has publicly opposed the law; however, some do criticize the need for a statewide law.

"This bill goes so far past what is acceptable for government to regulate," said Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen, R-Modesto, a former vice president of marketing at California State University, Stanislaus. "It will just become another one of the many laws in California that always lead to litigation."

Governor Brown's stance on the law is not known, reports the AP.