New Laws
A number of states enacted laws that took effect on the first of the new year. Obviously we here in Iowa are making sure we are “hands free” in our cars, keeping those tempting phones and other electronic devices out of our hands. And there is a new law prohibiting SNAP recipients from using that money for junk food…although card holders can simply jump across the border into a neighbor state and use the card on whatever they want.
Utah has a new law requiring bars and restaurants to check the ID of every single customer, regardless of age, before serving alcohol. There’s a good reason for it; individuals with “extreme driving under the influence” convictions, meaning a very high blood alcohol level, have a red stripe on their state ID, indicating a “No Alcohol Sale” restriction. So a small burden for someone without that background, to have to show an ID, if it helps keep folks who shouldn’t drink from purchasing alcohol.
For decades, radio and TV audiences have complained that the sound on commercials is louder than the programs. It’s technically not, although it seems like it because the ad often has a very different pace and tone than the program it is interrupting. Now California has a law that takes effect this year that prohibits video streaming services from making the volume of commercials louder than the actual content being watched. Again, it’s a decades-long battle, and good luck with the streaming services on that one.
Georgia will offer specialty vehicle license plates displaying an image of the American flag and the words “America First” for an additional fee, not unlike the specialty plates we have here in Iowa. How much more would you pay for that on your vehicle?
Minnesota is now quantifying how long employers must give workers for breaks and meal time; previously it was listed as giving “proper” time…now breaks are 15 minutes long and meal time a half-hour, depending on the length of the work shift.
Watch your hunting in Colorado…bison are now classified there as wildlife, making it illegal to hunt them without specific authorization from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission.
And tropical vacations will cost more…Hawaii is the first state to impose an additional 0.75% tax on hotel stays and vacation rentals to fund climate change resiliency projects, such as beach replenishment. Guess they haven’t gotten the climate change memo.
Some things to consider as Iowa lawmakers return to the Capitol Monday to start passing the new laws we’ll be talking about next year at this time.
