Synthetic intelligence. Abortion. Weapons. Marijuana. Minimal wages.
Identify a scorching matter, and chances are high good there is a new legislation about it taking impact in 2025 in a single state or one other.
Lots of the legal guidelines launching in January are a results of laws handed this yr. Others stem from poll measures authorized by voters. Some face authorized challenges.
Here is a have a look at among the most notable state legal guidelines taking impact:
Hollywood stars and little one influencers
California, house to Hollywood and among the largest know-how corporations, is searching for to rein within the synthetic intelligence business and put some parameters round social media stars. New legal guidelines search to stop the usage of digital replicas of Hollywood actors and performers with out permission and permit the estates of lifeless performers to sue over unauthorized AI use.
Dad and mom who revenue from social media posts that includes their youngsters will likely be required to put aside some earnings for his or her younger influencers. A brand new legislation additionally permits youngsters to sue their dad and mom for failing to take action.
Social media limits
New social media restrictions in a number of states face courtroom challenges.
A Florida legislation bans youngsters underneath 14 from having social media accounts and requires parental consent for ages 14 and 15. However enforcement is being delayed due to a lawsuit filed by two associations for on-line corporations, with a listening to scheduled for late February.
A brand new Tennessee legislation additionally requires parental consent for minorsto open accounts on social media. NetChoice, an business group for on-line companies, is difficult the legislation. One other new state legislation requires porn web sites to confirm that guests are not less than 18 years previous. However the Free Speech Coalition, a commerce affiliation for the grownup leisure business, has filed a problem.
A number of new California measures aimed toward combating political deepfakes are additionally being challenged, together with one requiring massive social media platforms to take away misleading content material associated to elections and one other permitting any particular person to sue for damages over the usage of AI to create fabricated pictures or movies in political adverts.
Faculty guidelines on gender
In a primary nationally, California will begin implementing a legislation prohibiting faculty districts from adopting insurance policies that require workers to inform dad and mom if their youngsters change their gender identification. The legislation was a precedence for Democratic lawmakers who needed to halt such insurance policies handed by a number of districts.
Abortion protection
Many states have handed legal guidelines limiting or defending abortion rights for the reason that U.S. Supreme Court docket overturned a nationwide proper to the process in 2022. One of many newest is the Democratic-led state of Delaware. A legislation there would require the state worker well being plan and Medicaid plans for lower-income residents to cowl abortions with no deductible, copayments or different cost-sharing necessities.
Gun management
A brand new Minnesota legislation prohibits weapons with “binary triggers” that permit for extra fast hearth, inflicting a weapon to fireside one spherical when the set off is pulled and one other when it’s launched.
In Delaware, a legislation provides faculties and universities to a listing of faculty zones the place weapons are prohibited, with exceptions for these working of their official capability similar to legislation officers and commissioned safety guards.
Medical marijuana
Kentucky is turning into the newest state to let folks use marijuana for medical functions. To use for a state medical hashish card, folks should get written certification from a medical supplier of a qualifying situation, similar to most cancers, a number of sclerosis, power ache, epilepsy, power nausea or post-traumatic stress dysfunction. Practically four-fifths of U.S. states have now legalized medical marijuana.
Minimal wages
Minimal wage employees in additional than 20 states are resulting from obtain raises in January. The very best minimal wages will likely be in Washington, California and Connecticut, all of which can high $16 an hour after modest will increase.
The biggest will increase are scheduled in Delaware, the place the minimal wage will rise by $1.75 to $15 an hour, and in Nebraska, the place a poll measure authorized by voters in 2022 will add $1.50 to the present minimal of $12 an hour.
Twenty different states nonetheless observe the federal minimal wage of $7.25 an hour.
Safer touring
In Oregon, utilizing medicine on public transit will likely be thought of a misdemeanor crime of interfering with public transportation. Whereas the measure labored its method via the legislature, a number of transportation officers mentioned drug use on buses and trains, and at transit stops and stations, was making passengers and drivers really feel much less secure.
In Missouri, legislation enforcement officers have spent the previous 16 months issuing warnings to motorists that handheld cellphone use is prohibited. Beginning with the brand new yr, penalties will kick in: a $150 superb for the primary violation, progressing to $500 for third and subsequent offenses and as much as 15 years imprisonment if a driver utilizing a cellphone trigger an harm or demise. However police should discover a main violation, similar to rushing or weaving throughout lanes, to quote motorists for violating the cellphone legislation.
Montana is the one state that hasn’t banned texting whereas driving, in accordance with the Nationwide Convention of State Legislatures.
Tax breaks
Tenants in Arizona will not need to pay tax on their month-to-month lease, due to the repeal of a legislation that had allowed cities and cities to impose such taxes. Whereas a victory for renters, the brand new legislation is a monetary loss for governments. An evaluation by Arizona’s nonpartisan Joint Legislative Funds Committee estimated that $230 million could be misplaced in municipal tax income throughout the first full fiscal yr of implementation.
In the meantime Alabama will supply tax credit to companies that assist workers with little one care prices.
Kansas is eliminating its 2% gross sales tax on groceries. It is also chopping particular person revenue taxes by dropping the highest tax price, rising a credit score for little one care bills and exempting all Social Safety revenue from taxes, amongst different issues. Taxpayers are anticipated to avoid wasting about $320 million a yr going ahead.
Voting rights
An Oklahoma legislation expands voting privileges to individuals who have been convicted of felonies however had their sentences discharged or commuted, together with commutations for crimes which were reclassified from felonies to misdemeanors. Former state Sen. George Younger, an Oklahoma Metropolis Democrat, carried the invoice within the Senate.
“I think it’s very important that people who have gone through trials and tribulations in their life, that we have a system that brings them back and allows them to participate as contributing citizens,” Younger mentioned.
