While the federal government spent the majority of 2010 engaged in one big, unproductive pissing match, state-level legislatures were busy passing more than 31,000 new laws. Many went into effect Jan. 1, here are a few of the notable changes.
1. Marijuana
California has changed its drug laws by reducing the penalty for a person caught with as much as an ounce of marijuana. Previously, it was considered a misdemeanor which could result in jail time, but now the charge has been reduced to an infraction, which will result in a lot fewer court cases and no criminal record for offenders.
Meanwhile, Illinois has officially banned synthetic marijuana.
2. Crime
Speaking of Illinois, the state has also cracked down on minors sending lewd pictures electronically to other minors, which is known as “sexting.” Law enforcement officers can now take the minor into custody and place them under supervision for the offense.
3. Environment
In Arizona, individuals and corporations can now get income tax credit for using wind, solar or biomass electricity. The amount of the credit will be depend upon the amount of energy used, but it’s a great example of how states are promoting alternative energy.
Question of the Day: What new laws has your state passed for 2011? How will they affect you? –djr
