Dozens of State Laws Took Effect Oct. 1

Dozens to hundreds of new state laws took effect Oct. 1 across the U.S., covering criminal justice, public safety, tenant and consumer protections, elections and animal welfare. Maryland enacted more than 400 laws, including a Second Look Act allowing some people imprisoned more than 20 years to petition for reduced sentences, new driver and public-health rules, a limited home-cannabis allowance for adults 21+, and a requirement that landlords give renters 14 days' notice before the sheriff can execute an eviction. Florida enacted nearly 30 laws including “Trenton’s Law,” which raises penalties for fleeing/eluding and repeat DUI/BUI manslaughter, expanded factors for capital cases, and a tenant flood-disclosure requirement. Other states adopted consumer-transparency and safety measures — for example, Nevada required clearer gas and entertainment pricing and tightened wrong-way driving penalties and mail-ballot deadlines. Arizona expanded animal-cruelty penalties under “Jerry’s Law,” and several states tightened penalties for cyber-related sexual harassment and child exploitation while rolling out new DMV and driver-related rules.