New Year, New Laws for Arizona in 2020.
Several new laws are now in effect as of January 1, 2020 or will be later this year. These laws will probably affect Arizonans the most:
1. Minimum Wage Up to $12 Per Hour
Beginning January 1, 2020, the minimum wage rose to $12 an hour across Arizona, up from $11 per hour in 2019. This originated from a proposition passed in 2016, and is the last scheduled wage hike under that law. Going forward, the state will adjust minimum wage based on the cost of living. By the way, in Flagstaff, the minimum wage is now $13 an hour.
2. You Must be at least 21 to buy Tobacco Products
No retailer may sell tobacco products — including cigarettes, cigars and electronic cigarettes — to anyone under 21 years old. The United States Food and Drug Administration officially changed the federal minimum age to purchase tobacco from 18 to 21 years after President Trump approved the provision as part of a $1.4 trillion spending package he signed December 20, 2019.
Some retailers are already enforcing the new law, though no exact effective date has been announced.
3. Marijuana Dispensaries Must Test for Contaminants
Many marijuana dispensaries that serve Arizona patients already test their products for contaminants like heavy metals and pesticides. In November of 2020, testing will be no longer be optional. Third-party labs do the testing following health department guidelines. Patients and caregivers can request the results.
4. School Teacher and Administrator Training to Spot Suicidal Behavior
Starting next school year, teachers in the 6th through 12th grades will be trained every three years to spot signs of suicidal behavior in students. The goal is to prevent teen suicides, which data from America’s Health Rankings shows is on the rise in Arizona. Governor Ducey signed the bill for training into law in 2019 after Corona Del Sol senior Mitch Warnock died by suicide in 2017. His parents pushed for change, to prevent others from experiencing pain like theirs.
5. Arizona’s State Primary Now in August
Arizona’s primary is being moved to the first Tuesday in August. In 2020, that means the election is scheduled for August 4. The new law also pushes the voter registration deadline to the first week of July.
6. Electronic Opioid Prescriptions Only
There will be no more paper prescriptions written for opioids, as now they must all be done electronically. This should help the state keep better track of opioid use and potential abuse. It will also prevent fraud that is sometimes associated with the paper prescriptions.
If you have questions about the new laws or any legal issue, give us a call at (480) 833-1113.
Attorney Profile: Kevin Chapman
Main Areas of Law:
Personal Injury
Auto Accidents
Wrongful Death
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