Here are the new laws now in effect on January 1, 2025
With the new year, new laws take effect in many states.
Here are some of the most interesting laws that go into effect on January 1.
Arizona
Minimum wage increases to $14.70 per hour
Some of Arizona's lowest-paid workers are getting a raise as the minimum wage increases on New Year's Day. Starting Jan. 1, 2025, the minimum wage rises by 35 cents, bringing the state minimum wage to $14.70 per hour. This new wage equals $30,576 annually and places Arizona among the states with the highest minimum wage in the nation.
California
AI in Hollywood
AB 2602 makes it illegal to use artificial intelligence to replicate an actor’s voice or likeness without permission.
AB 1836 prohibits the use of dead actors’ voices or likeness without the consent of their estate.
Auto Burglary
SB 905 eliminates the "locked door loophole," which required prosecutors to prove car doors were locked when a burglary took place. This gives prosecutors more flexibility to address auto burglary and thefts.
Retail Crimes
AB 3209 allows retail stores to get restraining orders against people sentenced for stealing, vandalizing or assaulting an employee at that store.
AB 1779 allows California district attorneys to coordinate with other DAs to consolidate charges for suspects in retail theft crimes that occur across multiple counties.
AB 1960 creates sentencing enhancements for taking, damaging, or destroying property while committing a felony if the property value exceeds $50,000.
Health
SB 729 requires insurance companies to cover IVF. Access will also be expanded to LGBTQ+ families.
AB 2515 bans the sale of tampons and other menstrual products that contain potentially toxic chemicals.
AB 1902 requires pharmacies to provide accessible prescription labels to people who are blind, have low vision, or are print disabled.
Florida
Online Protection for Minors
HB 3 prohibits children under 14 from creating social media accounts. Teens aged 14 and 15 can create accounts with parental consent.
"Social media harms children in a variety of ways," Gov. Ron DeSantis states. "HB 3 gives parents a greater ability to protect their children."
Illinois
Pay Transparency
Larger employers with 15 or more employees must now include pay scale information in job postings, under an amendment to the state’s Equal Pay Act.
Youth Vaping Ads
The amendment to the Preventing Youth Vaping Act bans advertisements for electronic cigarettes that could mislead consumers into mistaking them for non-tobacco products.
New York
Congestion Pricing
Congestion pricing begins Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025, in New York City, making it the first major metropolis in the U.S. to implement such a system.
Texas
Vehicle Safety Inspections Eliminated
Mandatory vehicle safety inspections for noncommercial vehicles are eliminated. Instead, a $7.50 "inspection program replacement fee" is added during vehicle registration.
New vehicles from the two most recent model years pay an initial fee of $16.75, covering two years. Emissions inspections remain in areas where they are required.
Washington
Free College Tuition Guarantee
House Bill 2214 guarantees free college tuition for low-income students starting in the 2025-26 academic year. Students in grades 10 through 12 receiving Basic Food or Food Assistance Program benefits automatically qualify for the Washington College Grant, the state’s largest financial aid program.