7 New Laws Going Into Effect In 2020 In Pennsylvania You'll Want To Know About
By Beth Price-Williams|Published January 02, 2020
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
Happy New Year, PA! Have you made resolutions for 2020? We, Pennsylvanians, all have our own New Year traditions – from eating the traditional pork and sauerkraut on New Year’s Day to digging deeper into our pockets for another PA Turnpike toll increase of six percent. (We’ll have that New Year’s tradition through 2044.) We also have several new laws in Pennsylvania that will go into effect in 2020.
Voters will see several new changes when heading to the polls in 2020. If you have trouble making it to the polls, which will have longer hours beginning this year, you can now request a mail-in ballot. Voters will no longer need to provide an excuse as to why they can’t make it to the polling station. Even better? You can request that your name be placed on a list to have a mail-in ballot sent to you every election. If you opt for vote by mail, however, you must have your ballot turned within 50 days of Election Day.
While voters are encouraged to register to vote as soon as possible when moving to PA, voters now have more time to register to vote. Previously, you must have registered within 30 days of Election Day. Now, you must register at least 15 days prior to Election Day.
Smokers and vapers will now have to be 21, instead of 18, to purchase cigarettes and other smoking/vaping products in Pennsylvania. The new law will go into effect in July.
The new law, based on Senate Bill 146, will allow firefighters to do some of their training online. The bill is set to go into effect in the early part of 2020.
5. National Guard members will receive education assistance
Eligible National Guard members can receive up to five years of free tuition at state schools while their families – including spouses and children – may be eligible to receive discounted tuition at Pennsylvania schools.
Hunters will now have the opportunity to hunt on three Sundays during hunting season. However, those dates have yet to be determined. The Pennsylvania Game Commission will designate one of the Sundays while Governor Tom Wolf will choose the other two.
7. Drivers must only drive vehicles they have a license to drive
All Pennsylvania drivers, of course, must have a driver’s license to operate a vehicle. However, we can apply for a license in different categories – such as the most common Class C. If you want to drive a motorcycle, for example, you must have a Class M license. A new law institutes a fine of up to $200 for drivers found driving a vehicle they’re not licensed to drive.
What do you think of the new laws in Pennsylvania for 2020? Do you agree with them or no? Let us know in the comments! Did you know that PA has some really, well, weird laws, too? Yep, here are 10 laws we all might have broken at least once.
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