Lawmakers in both parties overwhelmingly passed the new surveillance prohibition, he says. “They understood that it was something that could occur in the relatively near future, and so there was a desire to get on top of it.”
A sample of other state laws taking effect Jan. 1:
Colorado: Drivers will see a new annual $50 fee for plug-in electric cars. Colorado is one of several states looking to capture revenue from alternative fuel, electric and hybrid vehicles.
Connecticut: New gun-control laws in the aftermath of the school shooting in Newtown include mandatory registration of all assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition magazines bought before April 2013, and creation of a statewide registry that will track parolees whose crimes involved weapons.
Delaware: Sale, possession or distribution of shark fins prohibited.
Florida: Expanded early voting.
Maine: Becomes the 48th state to require a check-off for organ donation on driver’s licenses to promote organ donation.
Oregon: Privately run websites that feature police mug shots must take down photos for free if subjects can show they were not guilty or that charges were dropped.
Rhode Island: Becomes the eighth state to enact a so-called “ban the box” law that prohibits prospective employers from inquiring into an applicant’s criminal history on written job applications.
Source: NCSL
Contributing: Associated Press and Reuters
Article Appeared @http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/12/29/new-laws-january-first/4219901/