New Year Means New Laws

There is much to celebrate as we usher in this new year, including a slew of new laws that will be enacted in 2020. These include an increase in minimum wage across a combined 72 states, cities, and counties. The legalization of marijuana in Illinois. Deadlines for people to come forward with sexual assault allegations will be extended and even completely removed in several states. Higher fines for texting while driving will be enacted and more states will participate in being more Eco-friendly. Finally, some new laws will be put in place to deter new forms of discrimination in the work place. But the one thing that still has the country divided are the gun laws. The tightening and loosening of gun laws are to be expected this coming year with Colorado, for example, enacting a stricter “red flag” policy and Tennessee making it easier for residents to receive concealed carry permits.

Here’s a longer list of some of the new laws:

• Minimum wage increase
• More control over your data
• More people can sue over sexual assault/abuse
• Tightening and loosening of gun laws
• Legal weed in Illinois
• No more cash bail in New York state
• Banning of plastic grocery bags in Oregon
• Stricter fines for texting while driving
• Cyclists won’t be required to abide by stop signs in Oregon any longer
• California ban on discrimination in the work place based on hair
• Washington state will enact law requiring kids to remain in booster seats until age 13