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In the 1942 film “Holiday Inn,” legendary crooner Bing Crosby described midnight on New Year’s Day as “a minute to say goodbye before you say hello.” In 2025, Americans are “saying hello” to a number of new laws and tax code changes in several states across the country.
In West Virginia, for example, residents saw an automatic 2% personal income tax cut take effect on New Year’s Day.
“If someone says there’s something [else] It’s crazy that it could boost West Virginia’s growth beyond that,” outgoing Republican governor and incoming senator Jim Justice quipped of that particular policy change.
However, residents of other states may face more “strict” policies and regulations. Let’s take a look at some of them here.
new york
“Congestion pricing”
The Empire State’s hotly debated congestion pricing law goes into effect on Sunday, January 5th.
Gov. Kathy Hochul and MTA Chairman Jano Lieber support the change, which would impose a $9 photo toll on the average driver crossing or entering Manhattan under Central Park, but many New Yorkers remain outraged.
Hochul expresses bipartisan outrage over congestion pricing
“Congestion pricing, the latest in a long line of overbearing taxes, has been driven by consistent opposition to burdens on New York’s families and workers,” several New York state Republican federal lawmakers wrote in a December letter. ” he said.
Meanwhile, Democratic lawmakers like state Sen. Andrew Gounardes of Bay Ridge have called for congestion pricing plans to “start now, before then.” [Donald] Trump could stop that. ”
whisk
Visitors to one of the country’s most popular tourist states will no longer be welcome as travel-sized bottles of shampoo and lotion will be banned from the new year.
The Empire State’s ban went into effect on January 1st, while a similar ban in Illinois will go into effect on July 1st for large hotels and January 1st, 2026 for smaller hotels.
Many hotels around the country have moved to installing bulk shampoo dispensers on the shower walls, but many tourists still prefer small bottles.
California
tax increase
California’s 2022 SB-951 provides for a slight increase in the amount that workers can have withheld from their paychecks in 2025. The state’s disability insurance program rate will increase from 1.1% to 1.2%.
The average California worker’s net pay would be $8 less per month.
gas price
The California Republican Party estimated that new regulations that go into effect in the new year will cause “significant sticker shock” for drivers in the Golden State.
“I’m concerned that Californians are unprepared for a sharp increase in gas prices in 2025, an additional 90 cents a gallon in 2025,” said State Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones. It is likely to increase.”
California lawmakers slam ‘ivory tower’ energy as ‘political bureau’ as gas price hike looms
Jones estimates that Californians will pay $900 more a year for gas.
parental authority
AB-1955 (Safety Act) went into effect on January 1st.
The law prohibits schools from enacting policies requiring parents to be notified if a child changes gender identity.
“Politically motivated attacks on the rights, safety, and dignity of transgender, non-binary, and other LGBTQ+ youth continue to increase in California,” bill sponsor Rep. Chris Ward told FOX-11 in December. “The number of cases is increasing nationwide, including in
The San Diego Democratic district president said the school district wrongly adopted a policy of “forced expulsion” of students and that parents should love their children unconditionally no matter what.
colorado
Immigrant health insurance coverage requirements
A 2022 bill that would provide health insurance coverage to Coloradans regardless of immigration status is scheduled to take effect next month, The Denver Post reports.
California voters narrowly reject $18 hourly minimum wage
HB-1289 would require the state to “provide full health insurance to pregnant Colorado women who would otherwise be eligible for Medicaid and the Children’s Basic Health Plan (CHIP) if they do not have immigration status, and extend that coverage under CHIP federally for up to 12 years postpartum.” It is mandatory to continue for a month. According to the text of the bill, “matching rate.”
Delaware
abortion
Starting in July 2025, Delaware universities will be required to provide emergency abortion access and contraception or refer patients to outside facilities, according to the Wilmington News Journal.
Laws requiring insurance coverage and eliminating deductibles for abortions are also poised to take effect in the first state, according to multiple reports.
State Sen. Bryant Richardson, a Blaze Republican, killed the new law after it passed Congress in early 2024.
“This is a procedure that I want you to pay for with my tax dollars. I’m sorry, but I think this is evil,” he said.
District of Columbia
stop light
Washington, D.C., plans to enact a ban on equatorial right turns within district boundaries. This law is a rare comprehensive regulation, and New York City is one of the few major cities with similar legislation.
Signs announcing this unspoken law are typically posted when entering New York City from major roads such as Major Deegan or from one of the city’s many river crossings, but entering Westchester County or Nassau County They are often not installed in the grid of hundreds of small streets.
Similarly, the District of Columbia reportedly lacks funding to install signage on most roads entering the capital from Maryland and Virginia, which could affect enforcement. , there is a possibility that it will not have any effect.
DDOT officials told WTTG that $385,000 in district funds earmarked to notify residents and drivers of the law was not specified.
bird watching
The Washington, DC Migratory Area Wildlife Protection Act of 2023 imposes new building restrictions starting January 1st.
Permit applications and window modifications will require bird-friendly materials on exterior walls and windows within 100 feet of the grade, according to WTTG.
The area is also one of the few areas where the consumption tax will be increased. In Tokyo, the rate rises to 6.5%.
minnesota
firearm
Minnesota plans to enact a “binary trigger” ban on privately owned weapons, according to reports. That is, the ability of the gun to fire multiple bullets when the trigger is pulled once.
rhode island
ban on electronic cigarettes
The Ocean State plans to enact a law in 2025 that would ban the sale and possession for sale of flavored e-cigarette products. The law, which currently faces litigation, could preliminarily go into effect, according to the Providence Journal.
vermont state
global warming
Vermont’s Global Warming Act, which begins limiting greenhouse gas emissions, goes into effect in the new year.
According to Vermont Public, emissions reductions in 2025 should be 26% compared to 2005 levels.
But the law also allows states to face legal action from green groups and others if they fail to reach the required level of reductions.
This aspect has led Republicans to question the new law. Governor Phil Scott vetoed the bill in 2020, saying it did not propose or create an adequate framework for “long-term mitigation and adaptation solutions to address climate change.” He said no.
Meanwhile, Vermont Republican Party Chairman Paul Dame recently said state and taxpayer dollars are being put at unreasonable risk from these lawsuits.
“Given the technology currently available, these goals were not achieved, and now the state is being dragged into court for completely avoidable reasons,” Dame told FOX News Digital.
Oregon
No coal in my socks
Oregon’s HB-4083 would direct the state toward market vehicles, including divestment of coal companies and coal interests.
Pennsylvania
law that was not
As many states mentioned above enact tax increases and new regulations, Republicans in states with divided governments are cautioning that trends that run counter to liberal legislative interests may continue. It shows an optimistic outlook.
Vermont’s Scott has seen major vetoes like the Global Warming Act overridden by Democratic-controlled legislatures, but in some states, Republican-controlled legislatures have been overridden by Democrats. There is an opposite dynamic that hinders the goal.
With Republicans in control of the state Senate, one vote short of a 50-50 split in the state House of Representatives, and the governor’s office in the hands of Democrats, Republicans are pushing back on legislation such as the 100% carbon-neutral 2050 Clean Energy Standard. He expressed his relief that it had not been submitted. Josh Shapiro’s desk.
In the area of gun control, both the assault weapons ban and a repeal of the state Stand Your Ground law, authored by state Sen. Steve Santarsiero, D-Bristol, died in Congress.
“It’s time to take an evidence-based approach to gun policy,” Santarsiero said in the memo. “Stand your ground” laws are fueling gun violence, and that’s why we’re here in Pennsylvania. “The time has come to abolish ‘stand your ground’.” .
Another bill creating a firearms “red flag law” stalled throughout the legislative period.
A policy funding free phone calls for state prisoners also failed, as did a bid for an “abortion protection package.”
Flashback: Pennsylvania lawmaker drafts bill to divert ‘ghost flights’ of illegal immigrants to Wilmington
The failure of these and several other important “draconian” bills is a product of Republican tenacity, said state Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Gettysburg).
“With a Democratic governor and a Democratic House, the state Senate is the last resort to prevent Pennsylvania from becoming like California,” the 2022 Republican gubernatorial candidate told Fox News Digital on Monday.
“Democratic parties are introducing extreme bills one after another.”
As chair of the Emergency Preparedness Committee, Mastriano said the “worst” road closure in 2024 would be to address the impact on Pennsylvania of the biohazard East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment. It added that this is the law.
Mastriano, along with state Sen. Elder Vogel Jr. (R-Beaver) and Rep. Michelle Brooks (R-Pimatuning), authored a bill in July to exempt disaster relief payments from state taxes.
The bill did not pass Congress.
The state’s Republican lawmakers also lamented the failure of former Gov. Tom Wolf’s latest effort to pull Pennsylvania out of the National Greenhouse Gas Compact (RGGI).
After the Senate approved the bill, which ultimately failed, state Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Williamsport) said, “Pennsylvania must leave its environmental and economic fate to the whims of RGGI member New England states.” It’s really bad policy for the government.”
“The time is now to remove this regulation and focus on creating common-sense, environmentally responsible energy policies that recognize and defend Pennsylvania as an energy producer.”
“Pennsylvania’s greatest asset is its energy production capacity,” state Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward (R-Latrobe) added in a statement.
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minimum wage increase
Minimum wage hikes are also poised to go into effect in several states.
In Washington, Connecticut and California, the minimum wage for most workers is expected to be at least $16 an hour. Rhode Island will increase to $15, Maine to $14.65, Illinois to $15 and Vermont to $14.
More than a dozen states maintain the federal minimum wage of $7.25, including Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Utah, Tennessee and Mississippi.
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