New Year Ushers in Wide Range of State Laws on Guns, Transgender Rights, Taxes

Over 20 states to raise minimum wages, while some residents will pay less in taxes amid a trend of broad-based tax reductions.

New laws taking effect with the new year across the U.S. touch on issues such as restrictions on weapons, medical treatments for transgender people, and taxes.
In Illinois, a revised law will no longer allow police to pull over motorists solely because they have something hanging from the rearview mirror of the windshield.
Several states have new laws regulating guns and online activity, including a Minnesota law that allows authorities to ask courts for 'extreme risk protection orders' to temporarily take guns from people deemed to be an imminent threat.
Over 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.
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.