State laws and tax hikes for immigrants: A closer examination of some 'draconian' measures set to take effect in 2025.

In 1942, Bing Crosby in "Holiday Inn" describes midnight on New Year's as "one minute to say goodbye before we say hello." In 2025, Americans in various states are "saying hello" to numerous new laws and changes in tax codes.

On New Year's Day, West Virginia residents witnessed an automatic 2% reduction in their personal income tax.

Outgoing Republican governor and Sen.-elect Jim Justice stated that if anyone suggests there is something else that could drive more growth to West Virginia than that policy change, they are insane.

Some states may have more strict policies and regulations than others.

NEW YORK

"Congestion pricing"

On Sunday, January 5th, the Empire State's contentious congestion pricing law will be implemented.

Despite the support of Gov. Kathy Hochul and MTA Chair Janno Lieber for the $9 photo-enforced toll for drivers crossing or entering Manhattan below Central Park, many New Yorkers are still furious.

Several New York Republican federal lawmakers wrote in a December letter that congestion pricing, which has been met with consistent opposition due to its burden on New York families and workers, is the latest in a long line of tyrannical taxes.

Democrats, including State Sen. Andrew Gounardes of Bay Ridge, urged the congestion-pricing plan to start "immediately, before Trump can obstruct it."

Lather up

Starting from the New Year, visitors to one of the country's top tourist destinations will no longer be allowed to bring travel-sized shampoo and lotion bottles.

On January 1, the Empire State implemented a ban, while Illinois followed suit on July 1 for larger hotels and January 1, 2026, for smaller ones.

Although many hotels now install bulk shampoo dispensers on shower walls, many tourists still prefer the small bottles.

CALIFORNIA

Tax hikes

In 2025, California's SB-951 of 2022 mandated a slight increase in the amount of money withheld from workers' paychecks for the state's disability insurance program, from 1.1% to 1.2%.

The average California worker will experience a decrease of $8 in their monthly net pay.

Gas prices

The new regulations set to take effect in California in the New Year are expected to cause a significant increase in costs for drivers, according to estimates by the state's Republican party.

State Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones expressed concern that Californians will not be ready for the predicted gas price increase of 90 cents per gallon in 2025.

The cost of gasoline for Californians is expected to increase by an estimated $900 per year, according to Jones.

Parental rights

AB-1955, or the SAFETY Act, took effect Jan. 1.

Schools are not allowed to implement policies that require parents to be informed if their child's gender identity changes.

Assemblyman Chris Ward stated in December that politically motivated attacks against the rights, safety, and dignity of transgender, nonbinary, and other LGBTQ+ youth are increasing across the country, including in California.

School districts have wrongly adopted policies to "forcibly out" students, and parents should love their children unconditionally in all cases, according to Ward, D-San Diego.

COLORADO

Immigrant health insurance coverage requirements

The Denver Post reports that a 2022 bill providing health insurance coverage for all Coloradans, regardless of immigration status, will become law next month.

The bill HB-1289 mandates that the state provide "full health insurance coverage for pregnant individuals in Colorado who would be eligible for Medicaid and CHIP if not for their immigration status, and continues that coverage for 12 months postpartum at the CHIP federal matching rate," as stated in the bill text.

DELAWARE

Abortion

According to the Wilmington News-Journal, Delaware colleges will be mandated to offer emergency abortion access and contraception or direct patients to external facilities as of July 2025.

Reports indicate that a law is set to be enacted in the First State, requiring insurance coverage for abortion procedures and eliminating deductibles.

State Sen. Bryant Richardson, R-Blades, criticized the new law after it was passed by the legislature in 2024.

He stated that this is a procedure he believes should be funded with taxpayer money, adding, "I'm sorry, but I think this is morally wrong."

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Stop light

The District of Columbia will implement a law prohibiting right-turns-on-red within its boundaries, making it one of the few cities in the country to do so.

Signs indicating the unspoken law are usually found when entering New York City from highways such as Major Deegan or one of the city's many river crossings. However, these signs are often absent on the numerous small streets that run into Westchester or Nassau Counties.

The District of Columbia reportedly lacks funding for signage on most of the streets entering the nation's capital from Maryland or Virginia, which may or may not affect enforcement, according to reports.

A DDOT official informed WTTG that the $385,000 allocated for notifying residents and drivers of the law was never found.

Bird watch

The Migratory Local Wildlife Protection Act of 2023 in D.C. enforces a new building restriction starting January 1st.

According to WTTG, bird-friendly materials must be used on exterior walls and fenestration within 100 feet of grade level for permit applications or glazing alterations.

In addition to a select few areas, the sales tax will also increase in the district, with the capital seeing a rise to 6.5%.

MINNESOTA

Firearms

Reports indicate that Minnesota will implement a ban on "binary triggers" on privately owned firearms, which enables a gun to fire multiple rounds with a single trigger press.

RHODE ISLAND

Vaping ban

In 2025, the Ocean State will implement a ban on the sale and possession-with-intent-to-sell of flavored vape products. However, the law is currently being challenged in litigation and will only be able to take effect preliminarily, as reported by the Providence Journal.

VERMONT

Global warming

In the New Year, Vermont's Global Warming Solutions Act, which imposes restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions, will become law.

The Vermont Public Service Department requires a 26% reduction in emissions compared to 2005 levels by 2025.

If the law does not achieve the required reduction level, it exposes the state to legal action from green groups and others.

The new law was questioned by Republicans because it did not provide a good framework for "long-term mitigation and adaptation solutions to address climate change." Gov. Phil Scott vetoed the bill in 2020, citing the same reason.

Vermont Republican Party Chair Paul Dame stated that the bill opens up the state and taxpayers' money to unnecessary risks from such lawsuits.

Dame stated on Planet Chronicle Digital that the goals were unreachable due to the current technology, but now the state is being sued for unnecessary reasons.

OREGON

No coal in your stocking

The state of Oregon will move towards divesting in coal companies and financial instruments linked to coal through bill HB-4083.

PENNSYLVANIA

The laws that weren't

Despite the enactment of tax hikes and new regulations in many states, Republicans in states with divided government are optimistic that they can maintain their trend of opposing liberal legislative interests.

In contrast to Vermont's Scott, some states have a Republican-majority chamber blocking the objectives of Democrats.

Republicans were relieved that the 100% carbon-neutral 2050 Clean Energy Standard did not pass in the State House, which was one vote short of a 50-50 split, with the governorship held by Democrats.

In the gun control realm, an assault weapons ban and a proposed repeal of the state Stand Your Ground Law drafted by state Sen. Steve Santarsiero, D-Bristol, were both defeated in the legislature.

"Evidence-based gun policy is necessary. 'Stand Your Ground' laws promote gun violence. Therefore, it is time to repeal 'Stand Your Ground' in Pennsylvania," Santarsiero stated in a memo.

A firearms "Red Flag Law" bill failed to pass during the legislative session.

Neither a policy for cost-free telephone calls from state prisoners nor an "abortion protection package" was approved.

State Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Gettysburg, stated that the "draconian" bill failures were a result of GOP persistence.

The Republican gubernatorial nominee stated on Monday that the state Senate is the only hope to prevent Pennsylvania from becoming like California, with a Democrat governor and Democrat House.

"There has been a litany of extreme legislation coming from Democrats."

As chair of the Emergency Preparedness committee, Mastriano stated that the "most egregious" no-pass in 2024 was legislation aimed at addressing the effects of the biohazardous East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment on Pennsylvanians.

In July, legislation was drafted by Mastriano and state Sens. Elder Vogel Jr., R-Beaver, and Michele Brooks, R-Pymatuning, to exempt disaster relief payments from state taxes in one case.

That bill did not make it out of the legislature.

The failure of the latest effort to withdraw Pennsylvania from the "RGGI" Greenhouse Gas pact was also lamented by Republicans in the state.

State Sen. Gene Yaw, R-Williamsport, stated that leaving our environmental and economic future to the discretion of RGGI's New England states is poor policy for Pennsylvania, after the Senate passed the bill, which ultimately failed.

"It is time to repeal this regulation and focus on implementing a commonsense, environmentally responsible energy policy that highlights Pennsylvania's potential as an energy producer."

"Our ability to produce energy is Pennsylvania's greatest asset, as stated by State Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, R-Latrobe,".

MINIMUM WAGE HIKES

Minimum wage hikes are also primed to take effect in several states.

The minimum wage for most workers in Washington, Connecticut, and California will be $16 per hour or higher. Rhode Island's minimum wage will rise to $15, while Maine's will go to $14.65. Illinois will also increase its minimum wage to $15, and Vermont will see a rise to $14.

Over a dozen states, including Wyoming, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Utah, Tennessee, and Mississippi, maintain the federal minimum wage of $7.25.