Some of the Quirkiest New Laws Taking Effect in 2025

A selection of new laws will go into effect throughout the U.S. in the new year, with unusual state and local statutes on marijuana, deer meat and a mandate requiring retailers to accept cash payments being among those set to become active in 2025.

Why It Matters

Bills passed by state legislatures and signed by governors can go into effect on any specified date. However, January 1 of a new year is the common default starting point for many new state and local laws.

While a host of new laws are set to go into effect across the country in the new year, the nature of a few statutes makes them stand out from the crowd.

What To Know

The following is a selection of some the unique new laws that will go into effect on January 1, 2025:

A legal book displaying the scales of justice and "2025" is pictured alongside a gavel in this undated file photo. A significant number of new state and local laws are set to go into effect... Zerbor

California's Cannabis Cafés

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed state Assembly Bill 1775 in September, clearing the path for Amsterdam-style "cannabis cafés" to open in the Golden State in 2025.

The law will allow state-licensed marijuana dispensaries and venues to host live music and other performance events and to sell food and nonalcoholic beverages.

Illinois Law on Charitable Donations of Deer Meat

SB3407, which was signed by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker in August, rescinds a previous regulation requiring "a meat processor to be a member of the Illinois Sportsmen Against Hunger program in order for the meat processor to donate deer meat that the meat processor has processed."

The law also "requires meat processors who donate deer meat to a charitable organization or community food bank that receives wild game meat to keep written records of all deer received" and allows processors to donate unclaimed deer meat from customers.

Washington, D.C., Law Requiring Retailers to Accept Cash Payments

D.C. amended its laws to include a "cashless retail prohibition" in the new year. The new law specifies that "a retailer shall not discriminate against cash as a form of payment for goods or services," whether by "refusing to accept cash as a form of payment," "posting signs on the premises that cash payment is not accepted" or "charging a higher price to consumers who pay cash."

Exceptions to the law include online, phone and mail sales, parking lots that already do not accept cash payments and retailers who use prepaid "cash-to-card" devices under strict conditions. The law can also be suspended if the Washington mayor declares a public health emergency.

New York Law Regarding Car Wash Promotions

New York state Assembly Bill A6957A, which was signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul in December, specifically "requires car washes to disclose when promotions expire."

"Car washes shall clearly state when promotion will expire as well as any costs which will be incurred upon the expiration of such promotion and how often such costs will be incurred upon someone taking part in such promotion," the text of the bill states.

"Car washes shall conspicuously post notice of such information on a board or other visible place in view of consumers when advertising a promotion," it continues.

What People Are Saying

Newsom, in a written signing message to the California state legislature regarding the "cannabis café" bill: "While I am signing this bill, any future measure that diverges from this tailored approach will not be looked upon favorably ... If adequate protections are not established at the local level, it could necessitate reconsideration of this limited expansion."

Former D.C. Council member David Grosso, who originally introduced the cashless retail ban, in previous comments to The Washington Post: "By denying patrons the ability to use cash as a form of payment, businesses are effectively telling lower-income, undocumented and young patrons that they are not welcome in their establishments."

What Happens Next

The state and local laws listed above go into effect alongside others on January 1. Additional bills that passed during 2024 but have not been enacted are likely to become new laws throughout the year.