Here are some of the biggest new laws that went into effect Jan. 1

January 3, 2021January 3, 2021 WKXA

artisteer/iStockBY: IVAN PEREIRA, ABC NEWS

(NEW YORK) — With a new year comes new rules and regulations across the country.

State legislatures and local jurisdictions passed hundreds of bills last year on topics ranging from police reform and employment regulations to road safety and environmental protection.

Here are some of the biggest changes that went into effect on Jan 1.

Criminal justice reform

Following George Floyd’s death at the hands of police officers, elected officials across the country pushed ahead with bills designed to curb racial profiling, reduce violent conflicts between officers and civilians, and improve transparency among police precincts.

A new law in California bans police officers from wearing uniforms that have camouflage or otherwise resemble military uniforms.

All uniformed officers in Connecticut are now required to wear their badges in a prominent place. The state’s officers must also undergo a mental health screening once every five years.

In Portland, private businesses are now banned from using facial recognition technology “in places of public accommodation.”

Some states have implemented laws that reduce punishments for nonviolent offenses and provide alternatives to prison.

Following the passage of Proposition 17 during the November election, former felons on parole will be allowed to vote in California.

Four states — Montana, New Jersey, Arizona and South Dakota — are slated to introduce legalized recreational marijuana for adults this year, following ballot measures approved in November.

Employment

Twenty states, including Florida, California, Ohio and Arizona, raised their minimum wage on Jan. 1. By August, four more states will join the list.

The move comes as millions of Americans are struggling financially as the coronavirus pandemic enters its second year.

Colorado implemented a new law at the beginning of the new year that requires employers to post a salary range with each job opening and announce promotion openings within their company.

The law also prohibits employers from asking prospective employees about their salary history.

California will now allow people who worked on inmate fire crews while incarcerated to petition the court upon their release to have their records cleared, which will give them better opportunities for jobs once they’re out of prison.

Immigration

Driver’s license and state ID card applicants in Oregon won’t be required to show “proof of legal presence” under a law that went into effect on Jan. 1.

The applicant will still have to prove their identity and Oregon residency, and their license will not be “Real ID” compliant, which will be required for all Americans to board passenger planes starting in October.

In Colorado, landlords are now prohibited from asking an applicant about their immigration status. Landlords in that state are also banned from denying housing to someone based on their source of income — but they’re allowed to do credit checks as long as the check is performed on all applicants.

Other new laws

It is now illegal to hold a cell phone and drive in Virginia.

Under the new law, drivers are also only permitted to have their headphones in one ear if they are talking on the phone hands-free. Exceptions will be made for calls to report an emergency, and when the car is parked.

Delaware became the eighth state in the union to ban plastic bags. Roughly 2,400 tons of plastic bags currently end up in Delaware’s landfills, according to the state’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

And two years after Florida voters chose to ban statewide greyhound racing, the sport is now prohibited in the Sunshine State. Florida’s final greyhound race took place at Derby Lane in St. Petersburg on Dec. 27.