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When you wake up feeling groggy on January 1st, you’re not only waking up to a new calendar year, but also to a whole new legal landscape, as many new laws have been introduced law Take effect.
from law Restrictions on entry of foreign nationals from certain countries into the United States folic acid Is a necessary additive for corn tortillas californiafrom plastic grocery bag bans to minimum wage increases, Americans may have to adapt to new state and federal laws new yeardays.
While many of the measures update existing laws, others introduce sweeping changes that could affect millions of people Workerhouseholds, renters, students and consumers nationwide.
Here are some of the most notable changes starting in 2026.
Minimum wage hikes in at least 19 states
At least 19 states will raise their minimum wages on January 1, 2026, including Arizona, californiaColorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia and Washington.
Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Missouri and Nebraska will also join the ranks of states with hourly wages of $15 or more for the first time.
full time minimum wage Worker In these states, expected annual salary increases range from $582.40 to $4,160.
Hawaii had the largest increase, with its minimum wage rising $2 to $16 an hour, ranking fifth in the country. Minnesota saw the smallest increase, rising 28 cents to $11.41 an hour.
Alaska and Oregon will raise their minimum wages on July 1, 2026, and Washington, D.C., will raise their minimum wages on September 30, 2026. Officials in Oregon and Washington, D.C., have not yet announced specific amounts.
Twenty states still have minimum wages at or below the federal standard of $7.25 an hour, or have no state minimum wage at all. Since 2009, the federal Fair Labor Standards Act has set the national minimum wage at $7.25.
Artificial Intelligence laws expand nationwide
Some states are introducing new laws aimed at regulating artificial intelligence in the workplace and online.
Illinois to strengthen its Bill of Rights, ban employers from using AI In a manner that results in workplace discrimination and requires disclosure if: AI For recruitment or employment decisions.
Texas to roll out its own rules for workplace artificial intelligencealbeit with less regulatory intensity. Meanwhile, California About to start The country is experimenting for the first time with broader safety inspections and transparency reporting on state-of-the-art artificial intelligence systems.
The country will also strengthen laws against non-consensual sexual content on the internet, extending current protections to cover deepfake porn and other AI-generated or digitally altered explicit images.
Colorado’s AI bill, scheduled to take effect in mid-2026, imposes risk-based obligations on developers and deployers of high-risk AI systems, including impact assessments and anti-discrimination safeguards.
New paid leave and workplace protections
Some states will update labor laws in 2026.
Minnesota is introducing new paid leave lawDelaware is rolling out new paid family and medical leave benefits, and Washington is updating the same benefits.
Nevada will require certain employers to monitor air quality and limit worker exposure to wildfire smoke. Washington will expand security protections employee People who often work alone, including janitors, security guards and hotel workers, while Oregon will introduce new workplace violence prevention rules for health care providers.
Maryland will require counties with self-insured employee health plans to provide preventive cancer screenings to professional firefighters at no cost, eliminating copayments, deductibles and coinsurance.
In California, the state’s tortilla makers will Need to supplement folic acid Store-bought tortillas and corn masa products to reduce birth defects. Small businesses that make their own masa will be exempted, a move that expands existing practices for flour tortillas, breads and cereals.
Plastic grocery bag ban
California will phase out plastic grocery bags starting Jan. 1, 2026, under a new law designed to close a loophole in the state’s original ban.
In September, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 1053, replacing a 2014 law that allowed the sale of thicker plastic bags as reusable.
Under the new law, grocery stores can only offer recycled paper shopping bags for a minimum charge of 10 cents.
Lawmakers said the change was aimed at reducing plastic waste and increasing recycling.
Schools must limit or ban cell phone use
Under the Phone-Free Schools Act, California schools must limit or ban the use of cell phones during instruction. Districts have nearly two years to develop policies and must update them every five years.
The goal is to reduce distractions and improve academic focus.
In North Carolina, a new law requires school districts to ban students from accessing social media on school-issued devices and networks starting January 1, 2026.
Landlord must provide work tools
Also in California, starting January 1, landlords must provide working stoves and refrigerators as part of the minimum habitability standards mandated by Assembly Bill 628.
“A working stove and a working refrigerator are not luxuries – they are necessary parts of modern life,” said Councilmember Tina McKinnor.
“By establishing these required appliance standards in rental housing, California can provide a safer, more affordable, and more dignified home for all residents.”
Snacks are not included in SNAP benefits
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved six new state exemptions limiting the items that can be purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
Hawaii, Missouri, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia will join the list of states that ban candy, soda and energy drinks from SNAP.
No more loud ads
California’s SB 576 would ban streaming ads that are louder than the main content.
The law will take effect in July 2026.
Cat Declawing and Puppy Mill Method
California will ban non-medically necessary cat declawing and crack down on puppy mills and third-party pet sales.
“So if it must be done, veterinarians now need to document the reason, the procedure and any failed alternatives,” said Madeline Bernstein of the Los Angeles SPCA.
“We’re trying to make sure pet stores operate honestly,” Bernstein added, “and we’re trying to stop the massive breeding activity that’s causing a lot of hereditary, hereditary, recessive genetic activity.”