When the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve, laws in states across America silently went into effect. In some cases, the law changes are small, but in others, they address major policy issues that have taken center stage in American politics. These state laws, spanning from fentanyl to voting rights, are set to have an impact on residents statewide in 2023.
For example, in Missouri, a new law makes it a misdemeanor to camp or sleep on state-owned land, aimed at homeless people. Another measure, called “Matthew’s Law,” expands access to drug testing supplies that can detect fentanyl and other deadly adulterants in urine. New York has also addressed the drug crisis with legislation aimed at helping victims and survivors. In addition to raising the minimum wage in the state, it will now allow victims and survivors of crime to apply for victim compensation funds if they don’t have the traditional proof that they were a victim of a crime.
Other new measures in New York include giving voters a bit more leeway on election day, by permitting ballots to be counted if they are marked in the wrong polling place as long as they are marked in the correct county and assembly district. Also in that area, a new law makes it easier for voters to get help with their voter registration. The law is named after Matthew Horan, a college student who died of an accidental fentanyl overdose in 2020.
The new New York laws also include a requirement for NYCHA landlords to notify tenants within 24 hours about the results of water quality tests in their buildings. Additionally, an Assembly bill requires NYCHA landlords to obtain consent from residents before installing keyless security devices on apartment building entryways. The new law also requires that contractors hired by NYCHA to test water quality must meet all federal and state requirements, as well as follow local law.
The term “law new” is one that many legal firms today are embracing to describe their efforts to provide services in innovative ways. This can be through working with underserved communities, creating strategies that have not been a part of legal practice in the past and much more. A firm that embraces this approach can generate revenue and client satisfaction without sacrificing other areas of its practice, if it does so in a way that makes sense for the business. This is why it is important for all attorneys to understand the concept of “law new” and how it can be used to their advantage.