40K New State Laws Kick In for 2012

The new year has brought us about 40,000 state laws ranging from abortion and voter restrictions to golf cart requirements and a ban on happy hours. MSNBC runs down a few of them:

• Several states will require employers to confirm the legality of workers through a federal system called E-Verify. Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and South Carolina all have versions of the law.

• Sports coaches in Colorado will be required to sit players as young as 11 who have endured a head injury.
• In Illinois, people under 18 will have to wear seat belts when taking cabs for school-related purposes.
• A California law will require gay and lesbian history to be taught in public schools. Opponents have filed initiatives to block the law or let parents pull students out of class during the new history lessons.
• New Hampshire Republicans have passed a law over gubernatorial veto requiring girls seeking abortions to tell a judge or their parents first.
• Kansas, Rhode Island, Texas, and Tennessee will all have laws requiring voters to show photo ID.
• Seems golfers in Georgia were driving their carts out into traffic. A new law will mandate that carts have brakes, a horn, and other safety requirements.
• Which state will effectively ban happy hour? Utah. Daily drink specials there will be illegal in 2012.

See more of the new state laws here. (More state law stories.)