The TikTok brand is displayed on signage outdoors TikTok social media app firm places of work in Culver Metropolis, California on September 30, 2025. A brand new regulation 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 Photographs
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Patrick T. Fallon/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Right here at NPR, we prefer to ring within the new yr by 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 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 trade for lawmakers agreeing to slash the businesses’ insurance coverage prices for underinsured drivers.
After Massachusetts voters determined to take action in 2024, California grew to become the second state to increase collective bargaining rights to rideshare drivers.
– Laura FitzgeraldCapRadio
Extra paid break day in Colorado for fogeys of infants within the NICU
Colorado households whose infants spend time within the NICU will have the ability to take extra paid depart this yr. Colorado’s paid household depart program already permits staff to take as much as 12 weeks off from work to take care of a brand new child, or for a critical household well being or private difficulty, and obtain most of their pay throughout that point.
Now, households whose infants require time in neonatal intensive care can apply for an further 12 weeks of paid depart. Backers say this acknowledges the additional pressure households are below when caring for preemies and different newborns with vital well being issues.
Democratic State Sen. Jeff Bridges was one of many fundamental 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 get together 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 break day isn’t required to be paid.
– Bente BirkelandColorado Public Radio
Social media deadlines in Virginia
A brand new regulation 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, except a mum or dad agrees to an extended interval. NetChoice, a gaggle representing social media providers, claims the regulation violates the First Modification. The regulation’s creator, Democratic State Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, argues it is a “cheap try and steadiness free speech with the protection 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 based mostly on issues about their potential results on minors.” A preliminary injunction listening to is ready 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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With permission from the Trump administration, 18 states will ban the acquisition of sweet, sodas, vitality drinks or different objects utilizing federal {dollars} meant 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 can 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 mentioned in December that the waiver will assist create more healthy outcomes and mentioned the purpose aligns with President Trump’s push to revive SNAP to its “true objective – diet.”
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 yr.
Amongst different issues, critics of the waivers say they’re skeptical the bans will enhance individuals’s well being.
– Good SchechterSouth Carolina Public Radio
Paid depart as much as 20 weeks in Minnesota
Starting this week, most Minnesota staff could have entry to paid household and medical depart advantages. The state is launching a program that enables 12 weeks of paid household depart to take care of a sick liked one or bond with a childin addition to 12 weeks of medical depart to recuperate from sickness or harm.
There is a cap of 20 weeks in a yr if somebody faucets each. Those that take paid depart will obtain partial pay and could 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 break day.
This system is funded by a payroll tax cut up between employers and staff.
Some enterprise teams tried to dam the laws, saying that if staff take vital break day, it might put extra work on others.
Roughly three-quarters of Minnesota staff are anticipated to obtain extra paid depart advantages below this system than that they had beforehand. Minnesota will likely be amongst 13 states to supply paid household and medical depart advantages.
– Dana FergusonMinnesota Public Radio
Illinois regulates AI, regardless of Trump’s govt 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 staff – if the expertise components in demographic info, such because the individual’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 must get in entrance of it and do the perfect 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 court docket – because it has achieved in additional than thirty fits to date – over the brand new regulation.
– Mawa IqbalWBEZ
