State Updates: New Laws in Effect

California

On July 1, the city of West Hollywood became home of the nation’s highest minimum wage: $19.08 per hour. The new rate applies to all private employers with at least one employee. Other California locations with increases that went into effect July 1 include San Francisco ($18.07), Los Angeles ($16.78) and Malibu ($16.90). 

Colorado

Starting Aug. 7, workers will be able to take paid leave granted by Colorado’s Healthy Families and Workplaces Act for reasons related to bereavement, closures of schools or caregiving facilities, and evacuation from a worker’s home due to inclement weather, power outages or other reasons. Also on Aug. 7, Colorado’s Protecting Opportunities and Workers’ Rights Act becomes law. The POWR Act eliminates a previous requirement that workplace harassment had to be severe or pervasive in order to be illegal. That will make it easier for workers to win harassment lawsuits.

Minnesota

Effective July 1, Minnesota employers can no longer require workers to sign noncompete agreements except under very limited circumstances. The new law does not affect existing agreements. The state legislature also passed a paid family and medical leave law that expands on the FMLA, to be phased in over the next two years.

Texas

By Sept. 1, all Texas employers must post a notice telling employees they can report workplace violence or suspicious activity to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The notice itself is expected to include essential information such as contact details for the Texas DPS, clear instructions on how to report incidents, and potentially even guidance on recognizing signs of workplace violence or suspicious behavior.

These new laws have recently gone into effect, and it is important to stay up to date and ensure full compliance with them. This is particularly crucial if your organization employs individuals who work across different states.