New State Laws Take Effect Across the Country, From Screen Time Limits to Minimum Wage Hikes

A wave of new state laws took effect Thursday, touching on everything from children's social media use to worker pay to gun safety.

In Virginia, social media companies must now verify users' ages and limit access for children under 16 to one hour per day on each platform. The law has drawn mixed reactions—some parents welcome the guardrails, while critics question whether kids will simply find workarounds.

Nineteen states saw their minimum wages rise with the new year. Washington state now has one of the highest in the nation at more than $17 an hour.

Several states enacted laws on contested social issues. North Carolina now bars state funds for gender transition surgeries and allows lawsuits against medical providers who perform them. Texas is prohibiting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade.

In Delaware, a new program allows incarcerated mothers to send breast milk to their babies through a designated caretaker.

And Illinois now requires gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms within 48 hours.