The TikTok brand is displayed on signage outdoors TikTok social media app firm workplaces in Culver Metropolis, California on September 30, 2025. A brand new regulation in Virginia is designed to restrict social media use by children beneath 16 to at least one hour a day. It faces a authorized problem.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
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Patrick T. Fallon/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
Right here at NPR, we prefer to ring within the new 12 months by taking a look at new state legal guidelines taking impact on Jan. 1.
This 12 months, states are enacting a slew of legal guidelines centered on wages, social media guidelines, restrictions on gender-affirming care, AI regulation and far more.
Here’s a sampling of a few of these adjustments, as reported by public media journalists throughout the nation.
California rideshare drivers can unionize
Underneath a brand new regulation, California’s 800,000 rideshare drivers have the fitting to unionize beginning on Jan. 1. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom brokered the deal between organized labor and main rideshare corporations, together with Uber and Lyft.
The rideshare giants supported the growth of collective bargaining rights to their drivers in alternate for lawmakers agreeing to slash the businesses’ insurance coverage prices for underinsured drivers.
After Massachusetts voters determined to take action in 2024, California turned the second state to increase collective bargaining rights to rideshare drivers.
– Laura FitzgeraldCapRadio
Extra paid day without work in Colorado for fogeys of infants within the NICU
Colorado households whose infants spend time within the NICU will be capable to take extra paid go away this 12 months. Colorado’s paid household go away program already permits staff to take as much as 12 weeks off from work to look after a brand new child, or for a severe household well being or private concern, and obtain most of their pay throughout that point.
Now, households whose infants require time in neonatal intensive care can apply for an extra 12 weeks of paid go away. Backers say this acknowledges the additional pressure households are beneath when caring for preemies and different newborns with important well being issues.
Democratic State Sen. Jeff Bridges was one of many essential sponsors and says he was impressed by his personal private expertise. His new child was in intensive care, which he says was “terrifying and consuming.”
Democrats handed the invoice, largely alongside social gathering strains. Opponents say they fear about elevated prices to companies and staff who pay into this system.
Illinois additionally has a brand new NICU regulation going into impact in June, however in contrast to Colorado, the day without work just isn’t required to be paid.
– Bente BirkelandColorado Public Radio
Social media cut-off dates in Virginia
A brand new regulation in Virginia, which faces a authorized problem, is designed to restrict social media use by these beneath 16 to at least one hour a day, until a father or mother agrees to an extended interval. NetChoice, a bunch representing social media companies, claims the regulation violates the First Modification. The regulation’s writer, Democratic State Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, argues it is a “affordable try and stability free speech with the security and privateness of our youngsters.”
In authorized filings, attorneys for NetChoice name the regulation the “newest try in an extended line of presidency efforts to limit new types of constitutionally protected expression primarily based on issues about their potential results on minors.” A preliminary injunction listening to is about for mid-January.
– Brad KutnerWVTF
Eighteen states limit SNAP cash for sweet, sodas
Coca-Cola smooth drinks are provided on the market at a grocery retailer on December 11, 2024 in Chicago. Modifications to SNAP packages in 2026 in some states will forestall people from utilizing advantages to purchase soda or different sugary drinks or meals.
Scott Olson/Getty ImagesNorth America
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Scott Olson/Getty ImagesNorth America
With permission from the Trump administration, 18 states will ban the acquisition of sweet, sodas, vitality drinks or different gadgets utilizing federal {dollars} supposed for low-income households.
The states, which embrace South Carolina, Florida, Hawaii, and Texas, acquired waivers from the U.S. Division of Agriculture in 2025 that may permit them to limit Supplemental Diet Help Program {dollars} for gadgets the states deem non-nutritious.
Citing grownup and baby weight problems statistics, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster stated in December that the waiver will assist create more healthy outcomes and stated the objective aligns with President Trump’s push to revive SNAP to its “true objective – vitamin.”
South Carolina will ban the acquisition of sweet, vitality drinks, smooth drinks, and different sweetened drinks utilizing SNAP {dollars}.
Different states have narrower limits. Texas will prohibit SNAP funds for sweetened drinks and sweet, and Virginia plans to bar SNAP {dollars} for sure “sweetened drinks.” All 18 states have a goal implementation date of someday this 12 months.
Amongst different issues, critics of the waivers say they’re skeptical the bans will enhance folks’s well being.
– Good SchechterSouth Carolina Public Radio
Paid go away as much as 20 weeks in Minnesota
Starting this week, most Minnesota staff can have entry to paid household and medical go away advantages. The state is launching a program that enables 12 weeks of paid household go away to look after a sick cherished one or bond with a childin addition to 12 weeks of medical go away to get better from sickness or damage.
There is a cap of 20 weeks in a 12 months if somebody faucets each. Those that take paid go away will obtain partial pay and can have a assure that their place at work will likely be there after they return. Employers are additionally barred from retaliating in opposition to staff who take the paid day without work.
This system is funded via a payroll tax break up between employers and staff.
Some enterprise teams tried to dam the laws, saying that if staff take important day without work, it might put extra work on others.
Roughly three-quarters of Minnesota staff are anticipated to obtain extra paid go away advantages beneath this system than that they had beforehand. Minnesota will likely be amongst 13 states to supply paid household and medical go away advantages.
– Dana FergusonMinnesota Public Radio
Illinois regulates AI, regardless of Trump’s govt order
Beginning this 12 months, employers in Illinois are prohibited from utilizing synthetic intelligence in employment selections – from making new hires to selling or disciplining present staff – if the expertise elements in demographic data, such because the particular person’s race or ZIP code.
It is an modification to the state’s Human Rights Act and was handed by the legislature’s Democratic supermajority. Democratic State Sen. Javier Cervantes sponsored the measure. As an artist, Cervantes says he has actual issues about how quickly AI has progressed over the previous few years.
“That is an unchecked expertise,” Cervantes says. “We simply need to get in entrance of it and do the most effective we are able to.”
The brand new regulation comes on the heels of President Trump’s govt order directing the U.S. Division of Justice to problem states’ AI legal guidelines deemed “cumbersome.” Cervantes says he is fairly sure the DOJ will take the state to courtroom – because it has executed in additional than thirty fits up to now – over the brand new regulation.
– Mawa IqbalWBEZ
