WPBN: Almost every state has a new law pertaining to a popular issue that will go into effect in 2025.
This year’s legislature produced several of the laws that went into effect in January. Others result from ballot proposals that people have supported. Others are subject to legal issues.
The following list includes some of the most noteworthy state laws currently in force:
Child influencers and Hollywood celebrities
Hollywood and several of the biggest IT firms are based in California, which is working to control the AI sector and impose restrictions on social media celebrities. In addition to allowing the estates of deceased performers to file lawsuits against unapproved AI use, new regulations aim to stop the use of digital copies of Hollywood stars and entertainers without consent.
Parents will have to set aside a portion of their profits for their young influencers if they make money from social media posts that feature their kids. Children can now sue their parents for not doing so, according to a new law.
Limits on social media
Courts are contesting new social media regulations in a number of states.
According to a Florida law, children under the age of 14 are not allowed to have social media accounts, and those between the ages of 14 and 15 need parental approval. However, a lawsuit brought by two associations representing online businesses is delaying enforcement; a hearing is set for the end of February.
Additionally, a recent Tennessee legislation mandates parental approval before kids may create social media profiles. The law is being contested by NetChoice, an industry association representing internet companies.
A number of recent California laws intended to stop political deepfakes are also being contested, such as one that mandates big social media companies to take down election-related deceptive content and another that permits anyone to file a lawsuit for damages for using artificial intelligence to produce fake photos or videos for political advertisements.
Gender-related school rules
California will be the first state to implement a rule that forbids school systems from implementing procedures requiring employees to inform parents if their children change their gender identity. Democratic lawmakers prioritized the law in order to stop such measures from being implemented in several districts.
Coverage of abortion
Since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal right to abortion in 2022, some states have enacted legislation restricting or defending the surgery. Delaware, a Democratic-led state, is among the most recent.
A law there will mandate that abortions be covered by Medicaid plans for persons with lower incomes and the state employee health plan, with no deductible, copayments, or other cost-sharing requirements.
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Control of firearms
Guns with “binary triggers,” which enable faster firing and cause a weapon to fire one cartridge when the trigger is squeezed and another when it is released, are prohibited by a new regulation in Minnesota.
With the exception of those acting in their official capacity, such as law enforcement officers and commissioned security guards, colleges and universities in Delaware are now included in a list of school zones where firearms are prohibited by law.
Medical marijuana
The most recent state to legalize marijuana for medical use is Kentucky. People who have a qualifying ailment, such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, epilepsy, chronic nausea, or post-traumatic stress disorder, must obtain written certification from a medical professional in order to apply for a state medical cannabis card. Currently, medical marijuana is allowed in almost four out of five states in the United States.
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Minimum pay
In January, minimum wage workers in over 20 states are expected to earn hikes. Following slight hikes, the minimum wages in Connecticut, California, and Washington will all surpass $16 per hour, making them the states with the highest minimum wages.
The biggest increases are planned in Nebraska, where a ballot proposal adopted by voters in 2022 would add $1.50 to the existing minimum wage of $12 per hour, and Delaware, where the minimum wage will climb by $1.75 to $15 per hour.
According to an Arlington official, Virginia’s minimum wage will rise from $12 to $12.41. The $7.25 per hour federal minimum wage is still in effect in twenty other states.
Traveling in safety
Drug use on public transit in Oregon is punishable as a misdemeanor offense of interfering with public transportation. Several transportation officials claimed that drug usage on buses, trains, and at transit stops and stations was making drivers and passengers feel less comfortable while the bill was being passed by the legislature.
For the past 16 months, Missouri law enforcement has been advising drivers that using a portable telephone while driving is prohibited. Penalties will begin in the new year: a $150 fine for the first infraction, $500 for the third and subsequent infractions, and up to 15 years in prison if a driver uses a smartphone and causes harm or death.
However, in order for police to issue a citation for a cellphone law infringement, they must observe a main infraction, like speeding or weaving across lanes.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Montana is the only state without a law prohibiting texting and driving.
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Tax benefits
Due to the removal of a statute that permitted cities and municipalities to charge rent taxes, tenants in Arizona will no longer be required to pay taxes on their monthly rent.
The new law represents a financial loss for governments, but it is a win for tenants. The impartial Joint Legislative Budget Committee of Arizona calculated that during the first full fiscal year of implementation, $230 million would be lost in city tax income.
In the meantime, Alabama will provide tax breaks to companies who assist staff members with the expense of child care.
Kansas is getting rid of its 2% grocery sales tax. Among other things, it includes lowering the top tax rate, expanding a credit for child care costs, and exempting all Social Security income from taxes in order to reduce individual income taxes. It is anticipated that taxpayers will save roughly $320 million annually in the future.
The right to vote
Voting rights are extended by an Oklahoma legislation to those convicted of felonies whose sentences were commuted or dismissed, including commutations for offenses that were reclassified from felonies to misdemeanors.
The bill was carried in the Senate by Democrat George Young, a former state senator from Oklahoma City.
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