Paid prenatal leave, child influencer protections, no taxes on rent: New 2025 laws
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The new year will bring new regulations on health care, social media use, schools and rent across the country.
Why it matters: Many of the new laws are aimed at expanding protections of workers, children and consumers.
Flashback: New laws in 2024 targeted contentious, often-cultural issues, including wider access to birth control, a diversity, equity and inclusion ban in Texas and anti-book ban law in Illinois.
Among the most significant in 2025:
Paid prenatal time leave
New York will become the first state in the U.S. to offer paid time off for prenatal care or medical care related to a pregnancy.
- Privately employed pregnant New Yorkers will receive an additional 20 hours of paid sick time for prenatal care in addition to existing sick time, per Gov. Kathy Hochul's office.
- An employer cannot require an employee to choose one type of leave over another or require them to exhaust a different category before using the paid prenatal leave.
Zoom in: The benefit can apply to physical examinations, medical procedures, monitoring and testing and discussion with a health care provider related to the pregnancy.
- Employers can provide more than 20 hours, per the governor's office.
Digital replica protections
California performers' and actors' digital likeness will be protected under legislation that counters the misuse of artificial intelligence and other digital media technologies.
- Their likeness will be protected in audio and visual productions.
Child and teen influencer financial security
California children and teenagers who perform in online content will be protected from financial abuse under new legislation.
- One bill establishes financial and legal protections for minors featured in monetized online content by requiring parents or guardians to set aside a percentage of their earnings in trust accounts.
- Another expands the Coogan Law, created for actors, to include content creators on platforms like YouTube. Employers of child performers are required to place at least 15% of their gross earnings in trust until they reach adulthood.
Districts can't make teachers disclose students' gender or sexual identities
"Forced outings" will be banned in California — now the first state to bar school districts from requiring teachers and school staff from disclosing a student's gender identity or sexual orientation to anyone else without permission.
- The bill provides resources for parents, guardians and families of LGBTQ+ students to navigate conversations around gender and identity.
- Teachers and staff are protected from retaliation for refusing to forcibly out a student.
Between the lines: The act doesn't limit a parent's ability to request school records.
Eliminating taxes on rent
Arizona rental real estate taxes will be eliminated under a new law.
- The legal burden of proof falls on the landlords if they're sued for failing to comply, Axios Phoenix's Jeremy Duda reported.
Context: The bill was initially vetoed by Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) who was concerned about the financial impact on cities and concerns that landlords wouldn't actually pass savings on to their tenants.
- Changes were made to alleviate her concerns.
No social media for kids under 14
Florida children younger than 14 won't be allowed to have a social media accounts under a new bill.
- Civil liabilities will be imposed on platforms that refuse to terminate accounts of anyone under the age limit.
Yes, but: Two internet industry groups filed a federal lawsuit against the law, Axios Tampa Bay's Yacob Reyes noted.
Banned junk fees
A Minnesota junk fees law will prevent businesses from tacking on charges at the end of a transaction.
- Minnesota restaurants have been grappling with how to adapt to the new law, which will bar up-charges like a health and wellness fee from receipts, per Axios Twin Cities' Nick Halter.
- Automatic gratuity is allowed, but it must be clearly labeled and go to the wait staff. Taxes, shipping and delivery charges can be added to bills.
Higher minimum wage
Workers in 21 states and 48 cities and counties will get a raise on Jan. 1 when minimum wage increases go into effect, according to Axios' Emily Peck.
- In two states, the minimum wage will rise later in the year.
- By 2027, nearly half of U.S. workers will live in states with at least a $15 minimum wage.
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