Latest news with #newlaws
ABC News
a day ago
- Business
- ABC News
Why electricity prices are set to rise
Tomorrow is the start of a new financial year and with it comes a raft of changes: new laws, new road rules, and new household bills. Unfortunately for many of us, electricity is one thing that's about to get more expensive. Ellen Coulter explains why.
CBS News
a day ago
- Business
- CBS News
Boat permits, state constellation, anti-fraud measures: New Minnesota laws that take effect July 1
The Minnesota Legislature had a one-day June special session to complete the next $66 billion two-year state budget funding the state government and its programs and services. That spending kicks in July 1, along with a slate of new policies. The political makeup of the capitol is unique with a tied House for only the second time in state history. It's as closely divided as a Legislature can be in Minnesota — with 100 Republicans and 101 Democrats — which forced compromise. Here's a list of some of the new laws that take effect Tuesday: Boat permit requirements A bill approved two years ago takes effect Tuesday, requiring Minnesotans 21 and younger to have an operator's permit in order to drive a motorboat. That will expand to more age groups over the next several years. Anyone who rents a boat — regardless of their age — will need a permit, too. Anti-fraud measures In wake of high profile scandals like the Feeding Our Future scheme, the Legislature approved changes to increase oversight of public programs and prevent fraud. Under a new law, state agencies are allowed to withhold funding to organizations receiving state dollars for up to 60 days if there is significant evidence to suggest they have committed fraud. There is new training required for certain employees administering state grants and there are increased protections for whistleblowers who report wrongdoing. Lawmakers stopped short of passing an Office of Inspector General, an independent government watchdog agency, despite bipartisan support. Cannabis tax increase The gross receipts tax on cannabis sales increases from 10% to 15% before the legal adult-use market launches, despite pushback from the industry and advocates. It also applies to sales of hemp-derived THC edibles and beverages, which are already available on store shelves. New state symbols Minnesota has a state bird, drink, fish, flower and more. Now the giant beaver joins the list of state symbols as the state fossil, which got the most support when the Science Museum of Minnesota conducted a poll four years ago, according to the Legislative Reference Library. The Legislature also approved Ursa Minor, the "Little Dipper," as the state constellation. One of its stars is Polaris, "the North Star." Lane splitting for motorcycles Motorcyclists in Minnesota will be able to get through traffic jams a little quicker under a new law. Both "lane splitting" and "lane filtering" are legal starting Tuesday under certain circumstances. When there are two or more lanes of traffic going in the same direction, a motorcyclist can pass a vehicle in the same lane but no more than 25 miles per hour. Panel to find savings in special education Lawmakers are trying to pump the brakes on growing special education transportation costs, one of the largest drivers of a gap between spending and revenues that could lead to a deficit in future years. They trimmed how much districts are reimbursed by the state for those services — from 100% to 95% — and established a Blue Ribbon Commission on Special Education to find more savings in the next budget. Its charge is to "develop and present to the legislature and the governor an action plan for transforming special education services while maintaining a free appropriate public education for students with disabilities" by Oct. 1 of next year. Expanding access to opioid overdose-reversal drug Following a recent law requiring doses of opioid overdose-reversal drug naloxone in K-12 school buildings, the Minnesota Legislature authorized high school students to administer naloxone to other students as needed. Schools that are part of the Minnesota State system are required to keep a supply of at least two doses of the opiate antagonist in residential buildings. The Board of Regents governing the University of Minnesota are requested to implement the same policy.
ABC News
a day ago
- Business
- ABC News
New laws, changes and payments coming into effect
The new financial year is here and with it comes new laws, rules and payments that will effect Australian families and businesses.
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
UK to allow foreign states 15% stake in newspapers
Foreign states will be allowed to own up to 15% of British newspapers and news magazines under new move follows a takeover bid of the Telegraph and the Spectator by RedBird IMI last year, backed by the Abu Dhabi ruling family, which led the then Tory government to ban foreign-state ownership of UK papers, after an outcry from under a law change announced on Thursday, State Owned Investors (SOIs) - including sovereign wealth funds, public pension or social security schemes - will be able to take a stake in UK Secretary Lisa Nandy said the changes would protect "media plurality" while helping cash-strapped publishers "raise vital funding". Following a consultation on the ban, Labour said that many newspaper groups believed a complete ban was too restrictive for securing set the threshold for SOIs at 15% of shares or voting rights in a newspaper or news magazine as it was "the most effective, simple and proportionate approach". The ban was introduced after Lloyds Bank seized the Telegraph and its sister magazine the Spectator from the Barclay family in June 2023 in order to claw back £1bn of debts from its former Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, best known in the UK for his ownership of Manchester City football club, threw his considerable financial heft behind a £600m bid by US-firm RedBird to take over the panic over foreign control of two major UK newspapers led Parliament to enact the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 - which prevents foreign states from acquiring ownership, control or influence over UK newspapers and news Spectator was then sold last year for £100m to Sir Paul Marshall, the hedge-fund billionaire, who has installed Lord Gove, the former cabinet minister, as its editor. In a statement, Nandy said: "Britain's free and independent press is a national asset like no other and it is right that we have strong measures in place to allow scrutiny of UK takeovers that might go against the public interest."We are fully upholding the need to safeguard our news media from foreign state control whilst recognising that news organisations must be able to raise vital funding. "We are taking a proportionate, balanced approach to a threshold for low-risk investments that will remove a potential chilling effect on press sustainability." Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to read top political analysis, gain insight from across the UK and stay up to speed with the big moments. It'll be delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
