A new fiscal year means that recently enacted laws will go into effect on Saturday in many states across the country.
Statutes range from banning marriage licenses for children in Connecticut to legalizing shooting stars in Indiana.
Here are descriptions of some of the laws that will take effect in various states.
Floridians can carry guns without a permit
Florida residents will have it will no longer be necessary to obtain a state-issued permit to carry a concealed weapon, under a law that was quietly signed in April by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, the 2024 presidential candidate.
Florida became the 26th state to pass some form of carry without permit legislation.
California makes it easy to sue the gun industry
A bill signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, will Yoit’s not easier for residents, local governments, and the state attorney general to sue firearms retailers in civil court.
In addition, firearms dealers in California must establish a protocol designed to curb the sale of firearms to dealers, persons prohibited from possessing firearms under state or federal law, and persons considered a risk to themselves or others.
Kansas places restrictions on transgender people
a new law in Kansas prohibits transgender people from using bathrooms, locker rooms, domestic violence shelters, and rape crisis centers that are consistent with their gender identities. The statute holds that “distinctions between the sexes” should be considered “substantially related” to government objectives of ensuring health, safety, and privacy in those spaces.
The Republican-controlled Legislature in April overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto of the measure.
Georgia blocks most gender-affirming care
A bill signed by Gov. Brian Kemp in March bans most gender-affirming procedures and hormone replacement therapy for transgender people under the age of 18. However, the new law does not prevent doctors from prescribing puberty blockers and allows minors who began receiving hormone therapy before July 1 to continue.
Georgia is one of many Republican-led states restricting access to gender-affirming care, with Texas being the most populous state that has banned gender-affirming care for minors.
Florida bans classroom instruction on STIs and periods before sixth grade
The new law prohibits instruction on menstruation, human sexuality, and sexually transmitted infections in public schools before sixth grade.
It comes after a measure known as the Don’t Say Gay bill, which bans classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity, was expanded to include all grades in public schools.
Near-Complete Ban on Warrants in Minnesota
Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signed into law in May almost complete ban on no-knock orders after the high-profile shooting of Amir Locke by a SWAT team officer during a “no-knock” warrant raid in Minneapolis last year.
Exceptions to the prohibition will only be allowed if the search cannot be conducted while the premises are unoccupied, or if the occupants pose an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to warrant officers or others.
Virginia lists fentanyl as a ‘weapon of terrorism’
Starting Saturday, fentanyl will officially be “a weapon of terrorismin Virginia. The new law also toughens the penalty for manufacturers or distributors of drugs that include fentanyl.
During his State of the Union address this year, President Joe Biden called for “strong penalties” to crack down on fentanyl trafficking, while Republicans argued that their border policies are largely responsible for the amount of fentanyl in the US. USA
Marriage licenses for children are prohibited in Connecticut
A measure signed enacted last month prevents minors from obtaining a marriage license in Connecticut.
The new law reverses a 2017 statute that allowed a probate judge to issue marriage licenses to 16- and 17-year-olds with the written consent of a parent or guardian.
Indiana repeals throwing star ban
Under new lawthrowing stars are now legal in Indiana, except on school property.
The statute defines throwing stars as “a throwing knife, throwing iron, or other knife-like weapon with blades set at different angles.”
Stricter data privacy laws in Colorado and Connecticut
Both states are enacting consumer privacy laws that are expected to give residents more control over their personal data.
New laws require companies to obtain consent before storing, sharing or selling certain personal data. They also affirm the rights of residents to ask companies to delete their personal information, seek copies of data collected about them, and block the sale of their personal data.
Democratic Governor Jared Polis in 2021 signed to bill establishing the Colorado Privacy Act, with the final rules published in March. Governor Ned Lamont, a fellow Democrat, signed The Connecticut version from last year.
Porn sites required to verify the age of users in Virginia
Porn sites operating in Virginia will be required to take “reasonable steps” to verify that their users are at least 18 years old.
The new law follows the promulgation of similar statutes in arkansas, Mississippi and Utah In recent months.
Mississippi chooses the cranberry as its state fruit
Mississippi is formally designating the blueberry as his state fruit.
The move came after a group of elementary school students “led the way on this issue and rallied the legislature to their cause,” Gov. Tate Reeves said. tweeted by signing the legislation in March.
School books with sexual acts are now banned in Iowa
Iowa schools must remove from library shelves any text detailing “sexual acts” under a bill which also prohibits instruction related to gender identity and sexual orientation in public and charter schools through sixth grade.
The measure was signed by Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds in May. The legislation also removes the requirement that schools include information about HPV and AIDS in the health curriculum.
The law follows numerous book bans in Republican-led states under the banner of parental rights that focus heavily on LGBTQ-themed texts and books that highlight issues of race and racism.
Restrictions on Certain Race and Gender Issues in Tennessee
A new law identifies certain issues related to racism, sexism, and how race and gender might play a role in maintaining privilege or oppression as “divisive concepts” that are subject to restrictions.
He law prohibits institutions from conducting mandatory training or using training materials with students or employees that include these concepts. It also prohibits public institutions of higher education from requiring prospective students or employees to “submit a personal diversity statement” or accept an “institutional diversity statement” where applicable.
