You’ll have to ask for utensils in the new year, the minimum wage will rise to $14, people with felonies will have their voting rights restored and other changes
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Several new laws are going into effect in Washington state starting on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2022.
From plastic utensils to long term care premiums, to voting rights, here are the changes that will impact Washington residents in the new year:
Starting on Saturday, food service businesses may only provide single-use utensils, straws, condiment packaging, and beverage cup lids after customers ask for them in order to reduce single-use product use and waste.
Senior nutrition programs and healthcare providers are exempt. The Department of Corrections and Department of Children, Youth and Families are only required to follow the law “to the extent operationally feasible and practicable,” according to the bill text.
Utensils, straws, condiments and beverage cup lids may be made available to customers using bins, dispensers or other self-service customer options.
The law also sets requirements for the amount of post-consumer recycled content that must be used in certain plastic products sold or distributed in Washington.
A 7% tax on the sale of stocks, bonds and other high-end assets in excess of $250,000 will go into effect on Jan. 1. The tax is expected to bring in $415 million in 2023, which is the first year the state would see money from the tax.
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