Abortion Protections, Higher Minimum Wages, Gun Control Set Stage for New Laws in 2024

Now that the New Year has been rang in, 2024 is full of new laws set to take effect impacting the LGBTQ+ community, gun control, minimum wage, student loans, and abortion, among other things.

Here is a look at some new laws states will begin to implement throughout the year:

Abortion

On Jan. 1 in Washington state, a law to make abortion procedures more accessible with changes to insurance coverage went into effect. For any health insurance plans issued or renewed starting in the new year, cost sharing for abortions will be prohibited, including out-of-pocket costs like deductibles and copays.

In California, a new law will protect health care providers from out-of-state litigation should they provide services to patients traveling from states with stricter abortion laws. The new protections also extend to gender-affirming care.

New Jersey pharmacists will be allowed to dispense self-administered hormonal contraceptives to patients without a prescription, per a new state law.

Transgender Health Care

At the start of January, transgender health care for minors bans will go into effect for Idaho and and Louisiana.

In Idaho, health care providers who give any sort of gender-affirming care surgeries, prescribe puberty blockers or hormone treatments can face a fine of up to $5,000 or face a felony charge.

As for Louisiana, individuals under the age of 18 are completely banned from seeking gender-affirming treatments and medical professionals who provide them with such care can get their license revoked for a minimum of two years.

However, in states like Maryland, gender-affirming protections will go into place, like requiring Medicaid to provide coverage for care.

Guns

Starting the New Year, Californians will be barred from carrying guns in more than two dozen public spaces such as hospitals, libraries, sports venues, and children’s playgrounds.

Michigan's legislature passed a number of laws in an effort to reduce gun violence including red flag laws, strict background checks, and ownership bans on individuals who have been convicted of domestic violence for eight years following their conviction. Michigan will also institute a new red flag law and enforce gun storage safety in homes when children are present.

Washington state will extend their 10-day waiting period to purchase firearms of any kind and buyers will have to prove they have passed a gun safety training within the last five years or prove they are an expert.

Illinois has enacted a ban on semiautomatic rifles, as well as high-powered magazines.

Colorado is banning ghost guns.

Student Loans

A new retirement law will allow student loan payments to boost 401(k)s for some workers allowing employers to match their employees’ qualifying student loan payments with a contribution into the employee’s employer-sponsored retirement account.

The Department of Education has also updated the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA to make it shorter and easier for students who are seeking financial assistance for secondary education.

Minimum Wage

In 2024, nearly half of the United States will increase their minimum wage.

On Jan. 1, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, and Washington, DC will institute a higher wage for workers.

The District of Columbia will continue to hold the highest minimum wage in the country at $17.05, a five cent increase from their increase last year. D.C. will increase their wage again in July.

Washington state has the highest minimum wage of the states at $16.28 and Hawaii will experience the largest increase from $12 to $14.

Nevada and Oregon will increase their wages on July 1 and Florida will follow suit on September 30.

Gender Neutral Toys

Starting in the New Year, California major department stores will be required to create gender-neutral to aisles. The sections will not contain markings indicating the toys are for any specific gender and must include a selection of toys that can reasonably considered for any gender.

If retailers chose not to comply with the law, they face a $250 fine on first offense and $500 fines thereafter.

Education

In 2024, Illinois will become the first state to enact a total anti-book ban law.

Per the law, libraries and librarians statewide must adopt the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, which says reading materials "should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or personal disapproval." 

The teaching of cursive writing will now be mandatory for students in California from grades first through sixth. Schools in the Golden State will also be adding media literacy and Asian American History to their K-12 curriculum.