New State Laws in 2024: Gun Control, Abortion Rights, and Minimum Wage Increases

States across the U.S. enact new laws affecting a range of issues from gun control and abortion rights to diversity programs and minimum wage increases.

Illinois has enacted 320 new state laws, including a ban on semi-automatic rifles and a prohibition on library censorship. The law bans specific brands or types of rifles and handguns, including .50-caliber guns, attachments, and rapid-firing devices. No rifle will be allowed to accommodate more than 10 rounds, with a 15-round limit for handguns.
California has implemented a law protecting doctors who mail abortion pills to patients in states where abortion is illegal. The state has also passed a law preventing workplaces from firing employees for smoking weed outside work.
New York has increased its minimum wage to $16 per hour in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County, and to $15 an hour everywhere else in the state. Both rates will increase by an additional 50 cents in 2025 and 2026, with future increases statewide pegged to inflation.
Michigan has passed a package of legislation to reduce gun violence, including red flag laws, stricter background checks, safe gun storage requirements, and a ban on those convicted of domestic violence from buying, owning, or transporting firearms for eight years.
Texas has banned programs that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion at publicly funded colleges and universities, following a similar law enacted in Florida. The law is based on the argument that these programs use taxpayer money to stoke racial division and push a liberal agenda on campuses.