Dec. 28 (UPI) -- With the new year comes new laws as residents in many states will see some impactful changes beginning as soon as Jan. 1, 2023.
The new laws, passed by state legislatures and ballot measures approved by voters, deal with minimum wage increases, marijuana legalization and criminal justice reform.
Here are some of the notable laws set to take effect.
Minimum Wage
In the new year, 27 states will see an increase in their minimum wage. Most will take effect on Jan. 1, but others will have to wait until further into 2023.
California will lead the way with the highest minimum wage rate of any state at $15.50. Washington D.C.'s is $16.10.
Connecticut and Massachusetts will bring their minimum wages to $15 an hour, completing a series of incremental increases. Six other states will move closer to $15 an hour in 2023. New Jersey aims to reach the mark by 2024, while Delaware, Illinois, Maryland and Rhode Island will hit it by 2025.
While some states will have minimum wage increases, workers won't see the benefits until later in the year. In July, Nevada's minimum wage will increase to $10.25 for employers providing qualifying health benefits and $11.25 for those that don't.
Also in July, Oregon's minimum wage will increase from $13.50 to a new figure that will be determined by the Consumer Price Index.
Despite the increases, twenty states continue to have a minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, the same as the federal minimum wage, which hasn't been raised since 2009.
...
Police have launched an investigation into alleged false accusation by Park Cheol-min, a former member of the Seongnam International Mafia. Park, ahead of the 2022 presidential election, raised al...