A series of bills take effect today, including a crime bill that will ramp up penalties for gun crimes and include conspiracy to commit a crime as a felony.
The bill increases mandatory prison sentences for many violent offenses and makes some offenses ineligible for probation.
Other laws taking effect include a sexual assault survivor bill that dedicates more resources to tracking evidentiary collection kits, tracking prosecution and arrest rates, and assuring access to survivor’s services.
A law focusing on increasing protections for foster children and providing benefits for homeless children goes into effect today.
Riding a motorcycle without a helmet is no longer illegal, so long as the rider is 26 and has proof of medical insurance.
The definition of a “service animal” has been more clearly delineated, and penalties for knowingly misrepresenting an animal as a service animal have been implemented.
