New Year, New Laws
Uncle Sam’s on day two of his 2026 resolutions.
New laws took effect on January 1 across the country, including…
- Minimum wage increases in 19 states, with Washington becoming the first to exceed $17/hr.
- Restrictions on buying soda and candy with SNAP benefits in five states (check your state’s restrictions).
- “No Alcohol Sale” marks on Utah driver’s licences for those caught driving drunk.
- A tourism tax in Hawaii to fund natural disaster prevention.
Newly not taking effect: a pair of bills that got the first vetoes of President Trump’s second term. A unanimously passed Colorado pipeline project got #47’s Trump card because it’s “expensive and unreliable,” and a bipartisan bill benefiting a Florida Everglades native tribe went unsigned over the tribe’s immigration policies.
Critics say Trump used the vetoes to target his political rivals.
Verse to consider whether you love or hate your state’s new laws… “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.”
Titus 2:11-14 (CSB) (read full passage)