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 legislation in Virginia is designed to restrict social media use by youngsters below 16 to at least one hour a day. It faces a authorized problem.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP by way of Getty Photos
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Patrick T. Fallon/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Right here at NPR, we prefer to ring within the new yr by taking a look at new state legal guidelines taking impact on Jan. 1.
This yr, states are enacting a slew of legal guidelines targeted on wages, social media guidelines, restrictions on gender-affirming care, AI regulation and way 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
Beneath a brand new legislation, California’s 800,000 rideshare drivers have the precise 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 enlargement 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 Fitzgerald, CapRadio
Extra paid day off in Colorado for fogeys of infants within the NICU
Colorado households whose infants spend time within the NICU will be capable of take extra paid go away this yr. Colorado’s paid household go away program already permits employees to take as much as 12 weeks off from work to look after a brand new child, or for a critical 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 below when caring for preemies and different newborns with important well being issues.
Democratic State Sen. Jeff Bridges was one of many principal 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, principally alongside celebration strains. Opponents say they fear about elevated prices to companies and employees who pay into this system.
Illinois additionally has a brand new NICU legislation going into impact in June, however in contrast to Colorado, the day off just isn’t required to be paid.
– Bente Birkeland, Colorado Public Radio
Social media closing dates in Virginia
A brand new legislation in Virginia, which faces a authorized problem, is designed to restrict social media use by these below 16 to at least one hour a day, until a mum or dad agrees to an extended interval. NetChoice, a bunch representing social media providers, claims the legislation violates the First Modification. The legislation’s creator, Democratic State Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, argues it is a “cheap try and steadiness free speech with the security and privateness of our kids.”
In authorized filings, attorneys for NetChoice name the legislation the “newest try in a protracted line of presidency efforts to limit new types of constitutionally protected expression based mostly on issues about their potential results on minors.” A preliminary injunction listening to is ready for mid-January.
– Brad Kutner, WVTF
Eighteen states limit SNAP cash for sweet, sodas
Coca-Cola gentle drinks are provided on the market at a grocery retailer on December 11, 2024 in Chicago. Adjustments to SNAP packages in 2026 in some states will stop people from utilizing advantages to purchase soda or different sugary drinks or meals.
Scott Olson/Getty ImagesNorth America
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With permission from the Trump administration, 18 states will ban the acquisition of sweet, sodas, vitality drinks or different objects utilizing federal {dollars} supposed for low-income households.
The states, which embrace South Carolina, Florida, Hawaii, and Texas, obtained waivers from the U.S. Division of Agriculture in 2025 that may permit them to limit Supplemental Diet Help Program {dollars} for objects the states deem non-nutritious.
Citing grownup and little one 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 goal – vitamin.”
South Carolina will ban the acquisition of sweet, vitality drinks, gentle 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 yr.
Amongst different issues, critics of the waivers say they’re skeptical the bans will enhance folks’s well being.
– Maayan Schechter, South Carolina Public Radio
Paid go away as much as 20 weeks in Minnesota
Starting this week, most Minnesota employees can have entry to paid household and medical go away advantages. The state is launching a program that permits 12 weeks of paid household go away to look after a sick beloved one or bond with a child, in addition to 12 weeks of medical go away to recuperate from sickness or damage.
There is a cap of 20 weeks in a yr if somebody faucets each. Those that take paid go away will obtain partial pay and can have a assure that their place at work can be there once they return. Employers are additionally barred from retaliating towards employees who take the paid day off.
This system is funded by a payroll tax break up between employers and workers.
Some enterprise teams tried to dam the laws, saying that if workers take important day off, it may put extra work on others.
Roughly three-quarters of Minnesota employees are anticipated to obtain extra paid go away advantages below this system than they’d beforehand. Minnesota can be amongst 13 states to supply paid household and medical go away advantages.
– Dana Ferguson, Minnesota Public Radio
Illinois regulates AI, regardless of Trump’s government order
Beginning this yr, employers in Illinois are prohibited from utilizing synthetic intelligence in employment choices – from making new hires to selling or disciplining present workers – if the know-how 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 know-how,” Cervantes says. “We simply must get in entrance of it and do the perfect we will.”
The brand new legislation comes on the heels of President Trump’s government 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 court docket – because it has achieved in additional than thirty fits up to now – over the brand new legislation.
– Mawa Iqbal, WBEZ
