Intro New rules for artificial intelligence are changing how people apply for jobs, get loans, and protect themselves from fake online versions of real professionals. What Changed By 2025, every state and territory had proposed laws about AI. Thirty-eight states passed around a hundred of them. Now job seekers can sometimes ask for an explanation if a computer rejects them, but that right depends on where they live. Borrowers denied credit by an algorithm might have to go to

Intro California is taking direct aim at legacy and donor preferences in college admissions. For first generation and low-income students, this is meant to remove one tilted piece of the playing field. What Changed Beginning in September 2025, private nonprofit colleges in California are barred from giving preference to applicants because of family ties or donations. Admissions offices must remove legacy and donor status from the factors they consider. Students whose parents

Intro The WIC program is a lifeline for millions of new parents and young children, but when government money stops, so does the help. What Changed With the shutdown starting on October 1, WIC funding is running on fumes. States only have a small reserve, and once it’s gone, families stop getting formula, cereal, and fruit vouchers. The hardest hit are parents with newborns who rely on monthly EBT reloads and those caring for infants with medical diets. Grocery stores that ac

Intro When protections for sharing cyber-attack data expire, everyone feels it from hospitals to power plants to the families who rely on them. What Changed The law that shielded companies when they shared cyber-threat information with the government expired right as the shutdown began. With most cyber staff on leave, fewer analysts were around to help coordinate warnings. Hospitals, city utilities, and small-town governments are now slower to report intrusions for fear of la

Intro When the government closes, federal employees usually get paid later, but contractors often don’t and that’s a big problem for a lot of people. What Changed The bill would pay back wages to both federal workers and contractors during shutdowns. If it becomes law, janitors, cooks, guards, and call-center agents who keep federal buildings running would finally get pay for the days they couldn’t work. For now, most of them still go unpaid if Congress stalls. Families relyi

Intro A House vote to increase penalties for illegal entry has big consequences for families near the border and those hoping to seek asylum. What Changed The House passed H.R. 3486 by a narrow margin. It would increase punishment for crossing without permission or re-entering after removal. That means more people could face criminal charges instead of civil hearings. For families traveling together, that raises the chance of separation. For local defenders and court interpre

Intro The idea of banning noncompete contracts is dead for now, leaving millions of workers stuck where they are. What Changed After courts blocked its rule, the FTC gave up defending its nationwide noncompete ban. That means whether you can change jobs freely still depends on your state. Nurses, hairstylists, software engineers, and salespeople in strict-rule states can’t switch employers without risking lawsuits. In freer states, workers have more options and higher raises.

Intro Florida is taking another scheduled step toward a higher minimum wage. For workers in tourism, retail, and food service, this is one more raise built into the state’s long term plan. What Changed On September 30 2025, Florida’s minimum wage is set to rise to 14.00 dollars per hour. This follows the voter approved path toward a 15.00 dollar minimum in future years. Every hour at the legal floor now brings in more pay, which can ease pressure on rent and basic bills. Empl

Intro Mail costs went up again, and that’s affecting small sellers, seniors, and anyone who still relies on the post office. What Changed The price of a Forever stamp climbed from 73 cents to 78. People who send rent checks or birthday cards notice right away. Small businesses that ship handmade goods or invoices are feeling the pinch too. Nonprofits that raise money through mail campaigns are trimming their budgets. Rural towns, where mailing is still the main way to handle

Intro A giant new law touches nearly everyone: taxpayers, retirees, parents, and people who use federal aid programs. What Changed The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” made sweeping changes to tax and spending policy. For ordinary workers, the bigger standard deduction means a little more take-home pay. For seniors, there’s a new tax break that saves a few hundred dollars a year. But families on programs like food assistance or housing help are waiting to see if new income rules

Intro Investors in rural Opportunity Zones just got a lower bar for how much they must spend to upgrade properties. For small towns trying to attract development, that change could decide whether a project moves forward. What Changed The substantial improvement threshold for property in rural Qualified Opportunity Zones drops from 100 percent of the property’s basis to 50 percent. In simple terms, investors no longer have to double their investment to qualify for the tax bene

Intro Oregon already ties its minimum wage to where a person works, and another round of increases is landing. For workers near the edge of different regions, the location of the job can change their pay. What Changed On July 1, 2025, Oregon’s regionally based minimum wage system raises pay again, with different rates depending on the area. The law continues to treat Portland, standard counties, and lower cost regions differently. Employees doing the same job for the same com

Intro Workers in Washington DC now have one of the highest minimum wages in the country. For low wage earners in the city, the new rate sets the baseline for every hour on the schedule. What Changed DC’s minimum wage increases to 17.95 dollars per hour, with another step up to 18.00 dollars scheduled for July 1, 2025. That change shows up immediately in paychecks for workers at or near the legal floor. Employers with locations in DC and nearby states now juggle bigger gaps in

Intro Real ID deadlines have been pushed before, but this time the rules are set to hit air travel and federal buildings at the same time. For anyone who still carries a standard license, the change may arrive as a shock at the airport door. What Changed Starting in November 2025, people without a Real ID based driver's license will no longer be able to board domestic flights or enter many federal buildings and military bases with that license alone. They will need a Real ID

Intro Kids who don’t have steady internet at home just lost a key way to stay connected. What Changed The Senate voted to undo an FCC rule that let schools use federal funds to lend Wi-Fi hotspots to students. That means the loan programs that helped kids do homework or join class online will shrink or stop. Families in rural towns and low-income neighborhoods are hit first. Teachers are cutting back online assignments. Parents are back to driving kids to library parking lots

Intro Colorado is targeting the common habit of leaving guns in cars without locks. For gun owners who treat the vehicle as a storage spot, this turns a casual choice into a fineable offense. What Changed As of July 1, 2025, anyone who leaves a firearm in an unattended vehicle must secure it in a locked container. If they do not, they can face a 500 dollar fine for each violation.This pushes gun owners to buy and use lockboxes when they park. It also aims to cut down on guns

Intro Tennessee has limited how much local officials can restrict guns in public places. For parents, teachers, and public employees, this changes what they can expect when they walk into schools and government buildings. What Changed Beginning July 1, 2025, local authorities have far less power to ban guns in schools, universities, state buildings, and public meeting rooms. Rules that once kept firearms out of many spaces may no longer stand.Administrators and security staff

Intro Virginia now requires adults in the back seat to buckle up. For families and ride-share riders, this turns what used to feel like a personal choice into a shared safety rule. What Changed Starting July 1, 2025, adults riding in the back seat must wear seatbelts under state law, just like front seat passengers. Police can write tickets when they see someone unbelted in the rear seats.This shifts everyday habits on short trips where people once skipped the belt. Drivers w

Intro Tennessee has passed a law that targets people who provide housing to immigrants without legal status. For landlords, churches, and families who share space, this turns basic shelter into a legal risk. What Changed As of July 1, 2025, it is a crime under state law to shelter immigrants who lack documentation. That sweeps in anyone who rents a room, runs a church shelter, or offers a spare bedroom in a long-term way. Some property owners may start demanding extra proof o

Intro A large federal tax package is reshaping what many households owe and creating a new break for people with car loans. For some families, this will change whether they feel they are getting ahead or just catching up. What Changed For the 2025 tax year, the standard deduction rises to $31,500 for married couples filing jointly and $15,750 for single filers. That means many people will stop itemizing and simply take the larger flat deduction. The law also adds a new deduct

Intro Ohio schools now have to sort bathroom use by a student’s sex at birth. For transgender and nonbinary students, this turns a simple daily routine into something that can feel unsafe or humiliating. What Changed Starting in February 2025, students are required to use school bathrooms that match their biological sex under state law. Districts must rewrite policies, retrain staff, and explain the new rules to families. Some students will now be directed away from the bathr

Intro Michigan just raised the floor for low-wage workers and started a path to end the separate lower wage for tipped workers. For people living paycheck to paycheck, even a small bump in hourly pay adds up over a month. What Changed On February 21, 2025, Michigan’s minimum wage increases to $12.488 per hour. The state also sets a timeline to phase out the tipped wage entirely by 2030, so restaurant and bar workers move toward the same base pay as everyone else. Someone work

Intro More Americans signed up for health coverage than ever before, which is good news for families who’ve struggled to afford care. What Changed This year, over 24 million people got health insurance through the Affordable Care Act marketplace. For many, it means finally having a regular doctor or being able to afford prescriptions. For others, it’s their first time with coverage since losing Medicaid. Navigators and call-center workers have been flooded with questions, esp

Intro TikTok’s future now feels uncertain for everyone who uses it to earn money or stay visible. Creators, small stores, and ad buyers are all wondering what comes next. What Changed The Supreme Court said the U.S. government can require TikTok’s Chinese owner, ByteDance, to sell its American branch or face a ban. That means the app could change hands within months. Influencers who built full-time careers making videos there are losing sponsorships as brands move budgets to

Intro Delaware is starting the money side of its paid family and medical leave program. Workers will not see benefits right away, but they will see a new line in their paycheck that funds future time off. What Changed Beginning January 1, 2025, covered employers have to start payroll deductions for the state Paid Family and Medical Leave program. The first major due date for sending those contributions to the state is April 30, 2025.For now, the change looks like a smaller ta