New Laws Take Effect Across the US as 2025 Begins
January 1, 2025, marked not only the start of a new year but also the implementation of a range of new laws across the United States. In 2024, states addressed various issues, including abortion rights, gender-affirming care for minors, and minimum wage increases, with some of these changes taking effect this week.
A total of 21 states have increased their minimum wage, with Washington state retaining the highest minimum wage at $16.66. Delaware saw the largest increase, jumping from $13.25 to $15. Minnesota has standardized its minimum wage, with all employers now required to pay at least $11.13 per hour.
In other developments, a ban on gender-affirming surgeries for minors has taken effect in New Hampshire, while New York’s constitution has been amended to include expanded abortion protections. The equal protection clause of the state’s constitution now guarantees reproductive healthcare and autonomy.
The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022, has also brought about changes. The law has expanded clean electricity tax credits to all facilities and energy storage systems that produce energy without greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, Medicare enrollees will now face a maximum annual out-of-pocket cost of $2,000 for prescription drugs, a limit that did not previously exist.
These changes, along with others, are now in effect across the US, affecting millions of Americans.