New State Laws: Minimum Wage Increases, Medical Suicide, Legal Smoking Age Changes And Other Policies For 2019

Several new state laws go into effect in January, ranging from minimum-wage increases to new hunting policies.

Twenty states and 21 cities are seeing an increase in the minimum wage. The National Employment Law Project points out that the minimum wage increases will affect approximately 17 million people and will be phased in throughout the year.

A total of 13 cities and counties will increase their minimum wage to $15 or higher, while eight states will adjust their minimum wage for the cost of living.

Vermont will pay eligible remote workers up to $10,000 to relocate to the state as part of the Remote Worker Grant Program. The initiative has $500,000 earmarked and is first-come, first-served. The state will pay for moving costs and work-from-home expenses.

New Jersey residents must carry health insurance or face a penalty as part of the New Jersey Health Insurance Market Preservation Act.

Tennessee has eliminated sanctuary immigration policies, requiring all officials to work with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

California retail pet stores are now required to only sell dogs, cats and rabbits if they come from a rescue organization. Pet stores that do not follow the new law face a $500 penalty per animal.

Hawaii is following the lead of six other states and Washington, D.C., by adding an assisted suicide law. Doctors are now allowed to fulfill requests from terminally ill patients to prescribe life-ending medication but the patient must be 18 years and old have less than six months to live.

Massachusetts is one of seven states that now have a higher age requirement for buying tobacco, raising it to 21 years old. The law grandfathers in anyone that turned 18 before the new year.

Illinois unanimously passed a law that allows hunters the option to wear bright pink instead of the standard orange to meet safety standards.

Ohio now requires students to write cursive by the end of fifth grade, making the handwriting requirement part of every school curriculum by July 1.