8 New Laws Going Into Effect In 2020 In Buffalo You'll Want To Know About

Going into effect in 2020, the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act will provide a more regulated work environment for farmers all throughout the Empire State. With the new act, farmers will now have things like an eight hour work day, one day off a week, overtime pay available, and unemployment insurance.

All throughout the state of New York, including Buffalo, you'll see that as of March 1, 2020, there will be no more plastic bags offered in stores. As an alternative to plastic bags, you'll start to see more stores offering paper bags in the new year as a way to ease the transition.

If you hadn't already heard, in 2019, Governor Cuomo signed Brianna's Law, a law that will go into effect here in New York State in 2020. Named after 11-year-old Brianna Lieneck who was killed in a boating accident 15-years ago, the law will enforce that all motorized water vehicle operators will have to pass a state mandated boating safety course. Currently, every boater born in 1993 or later has to pass the course, while by 2025, all operators will be required to pass the course.

As of 2019 here in Buffalo, the minimum wage was set at $11.10 but going into the new year, Buffalonians will see minimum wage in 2020 set at $11.80!

Under current laws, Buffalonian adoptees who want their birth certificates must make the request through a judge, a request that isn't always granted and gave them a redacted version of their certificate. As of January 15, 2020, people will now be able to have full access to their birth certificates through the Department of Health.

Like so many other states around the country, New York will allow 16-year-olds to pre-register to vote as of January 1, 2020 - automatically registering the teens to officially vote once they turn 18 years of age.

By now, you're most likely aware of the fact that with your current New York license, you can only fly domestically. As of October 2020, all New York residents will be required to obtain a REAL ID. The REAL ID will be necessary to board any flight once October rolls around, whether you're traveling within the U.S. or entering a federal building.

In 2020, elimination of cash bail for misdeameanors and non-violent offenses will be another major change that the city of Buffalo sees. Instead, offenders will be issued an appearance ticket for when they're due back in court.