New 2025 laws hit hot topics from AI in movies to rapid-fire guns

(AP) – Synthetic intelligence. Abortion. Weapons. Marijuana. Minimal wages.

Title a scorching matter, and chances are high good there’s a brand new legislation about it taking impact in 2025 in a single state or one other.

Most of the legal guidelines launching in January are a results of laws handed this 12 months. Others stem from poll measures accepted by voters. Some face authorized challenges.

Right here’s a have a look at among the most notable state legal guidelines taking impact:

Hollywood stars and little one influencers

California, residence to Hollywood and among the largest know-how firms, is in search of to rein within the synthetic intelligence trade and put some parameters round social media stars. New legal guidelines search to stop the usage of digital replicas of Hollywood actors and performers with out permission and permit the estates of lifeless performers to sue over unauthorized AI use.

Mother and father who revenue from social media posts that includes their kids will likely be required to put aside some earnings for his or her younger influencers. A brand new legislation additionally permits kids to sue their dad and mom for failing to take action.

Social media limits

New social media restrictions in a number of states face courtroom challenges.

A Florida legislation bans kids below 14 from having social media accounts and requires parental consent for ages 14 and 15. However enforcement is being delayed due to a lawsuit filed by two associations for on-line firms, with a listening to scheduled for late February.

A brand new Tennessee legislation additionally requires parental consent for minors to open accounts on social media. NetChoice, an trade group for on-line companies, is difficult the legislation. One other new state legislation requires porn web sites to confirm that guests are at the very least 18 years outdated. However the Free Speech Coalition, a commerce affiliation for the grownup leisure trade, has filed a problem.

A number of new California measures geared toward combating political deepfakes are additionally being challenged, together with one requiring giant social media platforms to take away misleading content material associated to elections and one other permitting any particular person to sue for damages over the usage of AI to create fabricated pictures or movies in political advertisements.

Faculty guidelines on gender

In a primary nationally, California will begin implementing a legislation prohibiting faculty districts from adopting insurance policies that require workers to inform dad and mom if their kids change their gender identification. The legislation was a precedence for Democratic lawmakers who wished to halt such insurance policies handed by a number of districts.

Abortion protection

Many states have handed legal guidelines limiting or defending abortion rights for the reason that U.S. Supreme Courtroom overturned a nationwide proper to the process in 2022. One of many newest is the Democratic-led state of Delaware. A legislation there would require the state worker well being plan and Medicaid plans for lower-income residents to cowl abortions with no deductible, copayments or different cost-sharing necessities.

Gun management

A brand new Minnesota legislation prohibits weapons with “binary triggers” that permit for extra speedy hearth, inflicting a weapon to fireplace one spherical when the set off is pulled and one other when it’s launched.

In Delaware, a legislation provides faculties and universities to an inventory of faculty zones the place weapons are prohibited, with exceptions for these working of their official capability resembling legislation officers and commissioned safety guards.

Medical marijuana

Kentucky is changing into the newest state to let individuals use marijuana for medical functions. To use for a state medical hashish card, individuals should get written certification from a medical supplier of a qualifying situation, resembling most cancers, a number of sclerosis, persistent ache, epilepsy, persistent nausea or post-traumatic stress dysfunction. Almost four-fifths of U.S. states have now legalized medical marijuana.

Minimal wages

Minimal wage staff in additional than 20 states are resulting from obtain raises in January. The very best minimal wages will likely be in Washington, California and Connecticut, all of which is able to prime $16 an hour after modest will increase.

The most important will increase are scheduled in Delaware, the place the minimal wage will rise by $1.75 to $15 an hour, and in Nebraska, the place a poll measure accepted by voters in 2022 will add $1.50 to the present minimal of $12 an hour.

Twenty different states nonetheless observe the federal minimal wage of $7.25 an hour.

Safer touring

In Oregon, utilizing medication on public transit will likely be thought of a misdemeanor crime of interfering with public transportation. Whereas the measure labored its means via the legislature, a number of transportation officers mentioned drug use on buses and trains, and at transit stops and stations, was making passengers and drivers really feel much less secure.

In Missouri, legislation enforcement officers have spent the previous 16 months issuing warnings to motorists that handheld cellphone use is against the law. Beginning with the brand new 12 months, penalties will kick in: a $150 fantastic for the primary violation, progressing to $500 for third and subsequent offenses and as much as 15 years imprisonment if a driver utilizing a cellphone trigger an damage or demise. However police should discover a main violation, resembling dashing or weaving throughout lanes, to quote motorists for violating the cellphone legislation.

Montana is the one state that hasn’t banned texting whereas driving, in response to the Nationwide Convention of State Legislatures.

Tax breaks

Tenants in Arizona will now not must pay tax on their month-to-month hire, because of the repeal of a legislation that had allowed cities and cities to impose such taxes. Whereas a victory for renters, the brand new legislation is a monetary loss for governments. An evaluation by Arizona’s nonpartisan Joint Legislative Price range Committee estimated that $230 million can be misplaced in municipal tax income through the first full fiscal 12 months of implementation.

In the meantime Alabama will supply tax credit to companies that assist workers with little one care prices.

Kansas is eliminating its 2% gross sales tax on groceries. It is also slicing particular person revenue taxes by dropping the highest tax fee, growing a credit score for little one care bills and exempting all Social Safety revenue from taxes, amongst different issues. Taxpayers are anticipated to save lots of about $320 million a 12 months going ahead.

Voting rights

An Oklahoma legislation expands voting privileges to individuals who have been convicted of felonies however had their sentences discharged or commuted, together with commutations for crimes which have been reclassified from felonies to misdemeanors. Former state Sen. George Younger, an Oklahoma Metropolis Democrat, carried the invoice within the Senate.

“I feel it’s crucial that individuals who have gone via trials and tribulations of their life, that we now have a system that brings them again and permits them to take part as contributing residents,” Younger mentioned.

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Related Press writers Trân Nguyễn in Sacramento, California; Kate Payne in Tallahassee, Florida; Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee; Randall Chase in Dover, Delaware; Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis; Bruce Schreiner in Frankfort, Kentucky; Claire Rush in Portland, Oregon; Summer time Ballentine in Jefferson Metropolis, Missouri; Gabriel Sandoval in Phoenix; Kim Chandler in Montgomery, Alabama; John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas; and Sean Murphy in Oklahoma Metropolis contributed.