POLITCS
List of new laws taking effect on Jan. 1 2024 in various states: taxes, guns, LGBTQ+ issues...
The new year will bring changes to the law in many states across the country... Here is a rundown of those you should be aware of...
From increases in the minimum wage to attacks on LGBTQ freedoms to marijuana legalization, residents in states across the country will see changes to the law that are sure to impact their lives.
Healthcare and attacks on gender-affirming care
One of the most dramatic changes will come in Idaho and Louisana, where the legislature has enacted a law to ban gender-affirming care for minors. The law goes into effect on Monday, 1 January. Puberty blockers were a target of the law in Idaho, and any physician who prescribes the medication could face a fine of up to $5,000. The law in Louisiana goes even further, placing a ban on puberty blockers, gender-affirming surgeries, and hormone treatments.
On the flip side, California and Maryland passed laws that protect the rights to gender-affirming care and the physicians who provide this care to patients, even those from states where the treatments are banned.
Polling conducted by 19th News/SurveyMonkey poll found that public support for gender-affirming care was influenced by whether or not a person knew someone who had received that type of care. However, activists argue that public policy should not be dependent on support and that access to care must be protected because of the threat that denying access creates to people’s lives.
New York has also established a directory of doulas for expecting parents. Many of these providers are covered by Medicaid and the program aims to increase access to this critical aspect of prenatal healthcare.
Taxes and income
Dozens of states will see increases to their minimum wage take effect in the new year. Many states have approved increases through ballot measures, while the legislature has implemented others. Often, these laws allow the minimum wage to be adjusted for inflation to ensure it does not lose purchasing power as prices rise.
States where the minimum wage will increase in 2024
State | 2023 Min. Wage | 2024 Min. Wage | 2023-2024 Change
- Alaska | $10.85 | $11.73 | 8.11%
- Arizona | $13.85 | $14.35 | 3.61%
- California | $15.50 |$16.00 | 3.23%
- Colorado | $13.65 | $14.42 | 5.64%
- Connecticut | $15.00| $15.69 | 4.60%
- Delaware | $11.75| $13.25 | 12.77%
- Hawaii | $12.00 | $14.00 | 16.67%
- Illinois | $13.00 | $14.00 | 7.69%
- Maine | $13.80 | $14.15 | 2.54%
- Maryland | $13.25 | $15.00 | 13.21%
- Michigan | $10.10 | $10.33 | 2.28%
- Minnesota | $10.59 | $10.85 | 2.46%
- Missouri | $12.00 | $12.30 | 2.50%
- Montana | $9.95 | $10.30 | 3.52%
- Nebraska | $10.50 | $12.00 | 14.29%
- New Jersey | $14.13 | $15.13 | 7.08%
- New York | $14.20 | $16.00 | 12.68%
- Ohio | $10.10 | $10.45. | 3.47%
- Rhode Island | $13.00 | $14.00 | 7.69%
- South Dakota | $10.80 | $11.20 | 3.70%
- Vermont | $13.18 | $13.67 | 3.72%
- Washington | $15.74 | $16.28 | 3.43%
A few states have recently reduced their income tax rate. This move is expected to benefit lower-income residents and retired workers in Connecticut and Missouri.
In addition, Kansas has reduced the tax on groceries, which should help residents to save money. However, it’s worth noting that food companies may artificially increase prices, which could offset the benefits of the tax reductions. Furthermore, experts have criticized this approach to price stabilization as short-sighted, as it limits government revenue instead of going after companies engaged in price gouging. It’s worth mentioning that this reduction in the tax rate comes after another rate reduction from 6.5 to 4 percent that was implemented last year.
Guns and Red Flag laws
Minnesota will become the twentieth state to enact a red flag law that will allow law enforcement authorities to seize the weapons of individuals deemed a threat to those deemed a threat to themselves or others.
Colorado has passed a law to go after ghost guns, which are unregistered weapons that do not have a serial number and can be purchased in pieces online or assembled. Other ghost guns can be 3D printed and the new law curtails access and enacts punishments for those with these weapons in their possession.