As the new decade unfolds, a wave of new laws will bring changes big and small across the nation. From hair discrimination to marijuana, here is what to expect in 2020. 

In late Dec. of 2019, President Donald Trump signed a bill that bans anyone under the age of 21 from buying tobacco and vape products. This was part of a spending bill that puts off the possibility of a government shutdown until next fall. 

“I will be signing our $738 Billion Defense Spending Bill today,” said Trump in a tweet posted on his Twitter account, @realDonaldTrump. “It will include 12 weeks Paid Parental Leave, gives our troops a raise, importantly creates the SPACE FORCE, SOUTHERN BORDER WALL FUNDING, repeals “Cadillac Tax” on Health Plans, raises smoking age to 21! BIG!” 

The bill also combats another issue: youth vaping. With the recent outbreak of vaping-related lung issues, the American Lung Association advocated for increasing the age of sale for tobacco products to help save lives. Because 18 and 19-year-olds are often the suppliers to younger kids, this law could reduce the number of high schoolers who vape. 

Another widely discussed issue is the legalization of marijuana. South Dakota can expect to see medical marijuana on the 2020 ballot as Initiated Measure 26. The initiative was put in by Melissa Mentele, the executive director of New Approach South Dakota. More than 30,000 signatures were submitted, which earns it a spot on the ballot. 

“What we have is a bill for patients, by patients,” said Mentele. “It allows home cultivation, it allows dispensaries, it allows an industry to be built in South Dakota, so we are also creating jobs and providing medicine.”

Even more substantial is Constitutional Amendment A, which places recreational marijuana on the ballot as well. This would legalize marijuana to individuals 21 years and older, allowing them to possess and distribute up to one ounce. Under the amendment, marijuana sales would be taxed by 15 percent. 

Although the federal government still classifies cannabis as illegal, 33 states have legalized medical marijuana and 11 have legalized it for recreational purposes. South Dakota will be the first state to vote on medical and recreational in the same election. 

There is also good news for workers. On Jan. 1, South Dakota raised the minimum wage from $9.10 to $9.30 an hour. But recently, the House passed the Raise the Wage Act, which would set the federal minimum at $15 by 2025. The bill still has to pass the Senate and the president’s desk, but it would be a win for many workers, including high schoolers. It would help to lift struggling workers and their families out of poverty, and in turn, boost the economy. 

Advocates have been pushing for higher wages, arguing that the stagnated federal wage is not keeping up with the rising cost of living. The federal minimum wage has remained unchanged since 2009, at $7.25 an hour. But, if the Raise the Wage Act were to be passed, the minimum wage would increase by about $1.10 per year until 2025. 

On another note, California is the first state to ban employers and school officials from discriminating against people because of their natural hair. The CROWN Act (Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair) makes it illegal to enforce dress codes or grooming policies against hairstyles like afros, braids, twists and locks. Protection is extended to both the FEHA (California Fair Employment and Housing Act) and the California Education Code. 

The law was primarily designed for African American students and employees, especially since women with kinky and curly hair are sometimes subjected to unequal treatment. Many will even change their natural hair to look more “professional” for a work environment or fit better into the social norms. 

“This law protects the right of black Californians to choose to wear their hair in its natural form, without pressure to conform to Eurocentric norms,” said state Sen. Holly Mitchell. “I am so excited to see the culture change that will ensue from the law.” 

Hopefully, the laws we will see unfold in 2020 and years to come will only bring good and security to both South Dakota and the U.S. as a whole, whether that is through higher wages or hair equality.