As is often the case, New Year’s Day will see the implementation of new laws and policies in various states across the country. Some of these laws represent novel approaches to old problems, while others are attempts to address new or growing challenges. Here is a breakdown of new laws going into effect on Thursday.

Addressing climate change and drunk driving

Hawaii will implement a new tax targeting tourists, adding a 0.75% daily room tax for hotel stays as well as vacation rentals. While taxes on tourism are not new, this will be the first such tourism tax in the nation specifically aimed at addressing environmental damage. Hawaii hopes to use the added revenue from this “Green Fee” to remove invasive grass species, restore sand lost to beach erosion and address other environmental challenges that contribute to disasters like the 2023 Maui wildfires.

“As an island chain, Hawaii cannot wait for the next disaster to hit before taking action,” Gov. Josh Green said when he signed the tax into law. “We must build resiliency now.”

Utah, meanwhile, is looking to tackle a different problem: drunk driving. To curb the prevalence of people driving under the influence in the state, Utah will now require bars and restaurants to check the IDs of all customers, regardless of age, before they can be served alcohol. The state is also putting into place strict consequences for “extreme driving under the influence,” which covers several circumstances, including driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.16% or higher or driving under the influence of alcohol and another substance. Those convicted of this offense must surrender their driver’s licenses, and any replacement IDs they are issued will feature a red stripe and a “No Alcohol Sale” label preventing the person from purchasing alcohol in the state. Individuals wanting to restrict themselves from purchasing alcohol can also voluntarily obtain one of the red-striped IDs.

Several states have put in place new regulations targeting issues that have been hot-button political topics in recent years, including restrictions on artificial intelligence. California is implementing several AI regulations. One new law, inspired by a case of a teenager who died by suicide after several sometimes disturbing conversations with ChatGPT, regulates how chatbots should respond to people expressing suicidal thoughts; the law also regulates teenage exposure to sexual content. Other California laws restrict how chatbots identify themselves for the purpose of giving medical advice, as well as regulating how police can use AI. Texas is putting in place regulations on manipulative AI, as well as requiring state agencies to notify consumers when they’re interacting with AI and establishing an ethics council for artificial intelligence. Illinois is restricting employers’ use of AI for employment decisions, such as hiring. These new regulations come in defiance of President Donald Trump, who recently issued an executive order restricting states from issuing their own AI regulations. 

While Trump has discouraged states from restricting AI, he has made an issue of pushing for greater regulation of healthcare aimed at trans individuals. On this issue, several states appear aligned with Trump in limiting gender-related care. New Hampshire, building upon previous legislation that banned gender transition surgery for minors, will now specifically ban minors from undergoing breast surgeries for gender care, as well as prohibit puberty blockers and hormone treatments for minors when such therapies are intended as gender-related care. North Carolina, meanwhile, will implement legislation that only recognizes two sexes, in line with an Inauguration Day executive order Trump signed that limits federal recognition to male and female genders.

These are just some of the new laws going into effect on Jan. 1. Other legislation impacts everything from immigration policy enforcement to minimum wages. Taken together, these new laws are set to impact people across the country in various ways, and interested or concerned citizens should check to see what new regulations are being implemented in their states.