These are the Issues for Change in 2024:
GUNS - Several States have New Laws regulating Guns and Online Activity:
California - A Federal Judge recently Blocked a Law that would have Banned Carrying Concealed Guns, in many Public Places.
Colorado - will become One of 12 States Banning so-called Ghost Guns. The New Law prohibits Firearms that are assembled at Home or 3D-printed without Serial Numbers, practices that have allowed Owners to evade Background Checks.
Illinois - The U.S. Supreme Court Declined to Block a Law from taking effect Monday, that Bans High-powered Semiautomatic Rifles and High-Capacity Magazines.
Minnesota - A Law will allow Authorities to ask Courts for “Extreme Risk Protection Orders”, to Temporarily take Guns from People deemed to be an Imminent Threat to Others or Themselves. Minnesota will be at least the 20th State with such a Red-Flag Law.
HARASSMENT & PORNOGRAPHY - Several State Laws delve into acceptable Online Activities:
Connecticut - A New Law requires Online Dating Operators to adopt Policies for handling Harassment Reports by or between Users.
Illinois - A Law will allow Lawsuits from Victims of Deepfake Pornography, in which Videos or Images are Manipulated without their Consent.
North Carolina - A Law will require Pornographic Website Operators, to Confirm Viewers are at least 18 years Old, by using a Commercially available Database. The Law lets Parents Sue Companies, if their Children were allowed to access the Pornography.
LGBTQ+ ISSUES - Over the past few years, there has been a Major push by Conservatives to Restrict Access to Gender-Affirming Treatments for Transgender Minors:
Bans are on the Books in 22 States, including some where Judges have paused Enforcement as they consider Challenges to the Policies.
New Bans on Access for Minors to Puberty Blockers, Hormone Therapy, and Surgery, which is Rare, are scheduled to take effect Jan. 1st, in Idaho, Louisiana, and West Virginia. The West Virginia Law contains an Exception: Teens could still Access Treatment with Parental Consent, and a Diagnosis of Severe Gender Dysphoria from Two Doctors.
While many Republican-led Legislatures have imposed Restrictions, many Democrat-dominated States, have responded with Transgender Protections: Colorado - A new buildings wholly or partly owned by Government entities, will be Required to have on every floor where there are Public Restrooms, at least One that does Not specify the Gender of the Users.
Hawaii - A Law taking effect Jan. 1st, Requires New Marriage Certificates, to be Issued to People who request to change how their Sex is listed. The State also is replacing Gender-Specific Terms in State Law. “Mother” is being replaced with “Birthing Parent” and “Father” with “Non-Birthing Parent”.
The Conservative push on LGBTQ+ Policies also has come with efforts to keep certain Books Out of School or Public Libraries.
Indiana - A Law makes it easier for Parents and Others to Challenge Books in School Libraries.
Illinois - A Law would Block State Funding for Public Libraries that Ban or Restrict Books.
WAGES - The New year brings a Variety of New Laws on Taxes and Wages, Perennial Issues for State Governments:
More than 20 States will Raise Minimum Wages for Workers, further widening the Gap between State Requirements and the Federal Minimum, which has been Static at $7.25 an hour since July 2009. In several States, the New Minimum Wage will more than Double that Rate.
California - Statewide Minimum Wage will rise to $16 per hour.
Connecticut - Statewide Minimum Wage will rise to $15.69 per hour.
Maryland - Statewide Minimum Wage will rise to $15 an hour.
New Jersey - Statewide Minimum Wage will be $15.13 an hour for most Employees.
New York City - Minimum Wage will rise to $16 an hour, though it will be $15 in most of the rest of the State.
Washington - Statewide Minimum Wage will rise to $16.28 an hour.
TAXES - Residents in some States will gain Money by paying less in Taxes, continuing a Three-year Trend, in which nearly every State has Reduced, Rebated, or Suspended some type of Broad-Based Tax:
Alabama - will Exempt Overtime Pay from the State's Income Tax, though that lasts only until June 2025, unless Renewed by Lawmakers.
Connecticut - About 1 million Tax Filers are expected to Benefit from First Income Tax Rate Reduction since the mid-1990s. Lower-income Workers and Retirees also stand to Benefit from Expanded Tax Breaks.
Kansas - The Sales Tax on Groceries will drop from 4% to 2%, in its next step toward eventual Elimination, producing a savings of $208 Annually for a Family spending an average of $200 Weekly on Groceries.
Missouri - Will Reduce its Income Tax rate, while expanding Tax Exemptions for Social Security Benefits and Military Training Pay. Businesses will be able to claim Tax Credits for Hiring Interns or Apprentices.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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