At the stroke of midnight, friends and family will be joining together to toast to the conclusion of a turbulent year. Amidst the celebrations, states plan to enact dozens of new laws in 2024 that have the power to permanently alter people’s lives.
The most notable legislative changes are the new gun ownership laws in Colorado and Minnesota.
Legislators in California will compel certain sizable toy retailers to establish a gender neutral section. Additionally, Illinois drivers will soon be able to hang fuzzy dice from their rearview mirrors.
Virginians will get one step further to being able to purchase cannabis recreationally. In addition, more than 20 states want to increase the minimum wage for struggling employees. Some of the new legislation that you should be aware of are listed below.
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New Laws Pertaining to Cannabis Use for Pleasure
Virginia will see the implementation of a new recreational marijuana law in 2024. Since the state lacks a legal framework for the sale of cannabis-related items, the legislation still needs to be adjusted.
Newest Speed Cams
In 2024, six cities in California will implement speed cameras as a result of a bill approved by Governor Gavin Newsom authorizing local governments to employ them. Drivers who are detected by the cameras may be fined more than $50. Los Angeles, San Jose, Oakland, Glendale, Long Beach, and San Francisco will all have cameras installed.
An Increase in the Minimum Wage
The goal of raising the minimum wage in more than 20 US states by 2024 is to better equip workers to withstand the rising cost of living. The federal minimum wage of $7.25 will be more than doubled by several states.
This is the situation in New York, where workers will make at least $16 per hour, compared to $16.28 in Washington. Wages will be fixed at $15 per hour in Maryland and $15.69 per hour in Connecticut.
Toys that are Gender-Neutral
California is planning to introduce new laws mandating the presence of a gender-neutral toy department in large retailers. The law will only apply to stores with 500 employees or more.
However, the bill stipulates that noncompliance will result in a $250 civil penalty for the first offense and $500 penalty for consecutive offenses.
New Regulations on Firearms
In 2024, Minnesota will enact a red flag law that would empower judges to seize a person’s firearms if they believe the person poses a risk to themselves or others.
According to the new rule, a person’s guns may be seized for two weeks or, in severe circumstances, up to a year. In other news, Colorado has outlawed the manufacture or possession of three 3-D printed weapons, sometimes known as ghost guns since they lack serial numbers.
Allowing Fuzzy Dice to Dangle
In 2024, Illinois will finally pass new legislation permitting drivers to hang stuff from their rearview mirrors. This implies that officers will not be allowed to stop motorists for removing jewelry, air fresheners, and fuzzy dice from their vehicles.
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