- “Super Speeder” Law (HB 351): Classifies excessive speeding as a criminal offense, with penalties including up to 30 days in jail and fines up to $1,000 for repeat offenders.
- Animal Abuser Registry: Establishes a public registry to identify individuals convicted of animal cruelty, aiding shelters and sellers in vetting potential adopters.
- State Parks Preservation Act: Prohibits the construction of golf courses, hotels, and pickleball courts in Florida state parks to preserve natural habitats.
- Legal Tender Update: Recognizes specified gold and silver coins as legal tender in Florida, exempting them from sales tax.
Iowa: Civil Rights and Gender Identity
- Senate File 418: Removes gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights Act, eliminating anti-discrimination protections for transgender and nonbinary individuals in employment, housing, and public accommodations.
Virginia: Traffic Safety and Environmental Measures
- Seat Belt Requirement: Mandates that all adult passengers wear seat belts, regardless of seating position in the vehicle.
- Polystyrene Ban: Prohibits large food vendors from using polystyrene (Styrofoam) takeout containers, with the ban extending to all vendors by 2026.
Maryland: Tax Reforms and Support Services
- Tax Increases: Implements higher taxes on cannabis, sports betting, and vehicular services, as well as increased taxes for wealthy individuals.
- Support Services Expansion: Launches a pilot program to assist unemployed residents who owe child support in finding jobs and expands the 988 suicide crisis hotline.
California: Consumer Protection and Health Care
- Infertility Treatment Coverage (SB 729): Requires large group health insurance plans to cover infertility diagnosis and treatments, including up to three egg retrievals for IVF.
- Subscription Transparency (AB 2863): Mandates businesses to obtain explicit consent before auto-renewing paid subscriptions.
- Student Mental Health (SB 1063): Requires schools serving grades 7-12 to print the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on student ID cards.
Texas: Vehicle Registration and Public Safety
- Metal License Plates (HB 718): Eliminates the use of temporary paper license plates, requiring all vehicle license plates to be metal and issued at the time of sale.
- Abortion Clarification (SB 31): Clarifies legal boundaries for performing abortions under Texas’ near-total abortion ban, allowing licensed physicians to use their medical judgment in emergencies that risk the mother’s life.
Illinois: Environmental Initiatives
- Plastic Bottle Ban (SB 2960): Bans the use of small plastic bottles (under six ounces) for complimentary shower supplies in hotels with over 50 rooms, aiming to reduce plastic waste.
Kansas: Restrictions on Gender-Affirming Care
- Help Not Harm Act (SB 63): Bans gender-affirming care for individuals under 18, allows disciplinary actions against medical providers who provide such care, and requires minors already receiving care to discontinue by December 31, 2025.
Wyoming: Public Facility Access
- Protecting Privacy in Public Spaces Act (HB 72): Bans transgender individuals from using bathrooms in certain public spaces that align with their gender identity.
Tennessee: Education Reforms
- Education Freedom Scholarship Act (HB 6004): Introduces universal school vouchers, providing approximately $7,000 per student for private school tuition.
- Cell Phone Policies: Requires schools to adopt stricter cell phone policies, including prohibiting student access to social media via school internet.
Georgia: Public Safety and Education
- Seat Belt Enforcement: Enhances enforcement of seat belt laws for all passengers.
- School Safety Measures: Implements new school safety protocols following recent incidents.
Minnesota: Budget and Policy Updates
- State Budget Implementation: Enacts a $66 billion two-year state budget, funding various government programs and services.
South Dakota: Immigration Enforcement
- Sanctuary City Ban: Prohibits the establishment of sanctuary cities within the state.
These legislative changes reflect a dynamic legal landscape across the United States. For security professionals, staying informed about such developments is essential to ensure compliance and adapt to new regulations.