5 New MA Laws That May Impact Your Life In 2020

Jan. 1 marks the start of a new year, and with a new year comes new laws. For a second straight year, the Massachusetts minimum wage will go up and income tax will go down, while a long-anticipated distracted driving bill will go into effect in February, the paid family and medical leave law takes shape and — stop us if you've heard this before — a major vaping restriction takes hold.

Here's a look at five new laws taking hold in 2020 that could impact your life:

Distracted driving

Hands-free driving is finally upon Massachusetts motorists. After years trying to pass a distracted driving bill, lawmakers came to agreement on legislation that bans motorists from using handheld electronic devices — yes, cell phones — while driving, unless in hands-free mode. Motorists can still use navigation apps if it takes a single swipe to a device mounted on the windshield, dashboard or center console.

The law takes effect Feb. 23. First offenses will cost $100, second offenses $250 and third and subsequent offenses $500 and auto insurance surcharges.

Paid family and medical leave

Contributions for October-December will be due in January for the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, though benefits will not be available for residents until 2021. Instead, contributions from employers and self-employed individuals will pay for the previous calendar quarters. Contributions can be calculated here.

Minimum wage

The minimum wage will increase to $12.75 an hour, a 75-cent bump as it moves to a target of $15 an hour in 2023. Tipped workers' wages will increase to $4.95 an hour. Massachusetts will be one of 24 states to boost the minimum wage in 2020, according to the National Employment Law Project.

Income tax reduction

The state's income tax will finally fall to 5 percent, 20 years after voters approved a ballot measure slashing the rate from what was then 5.85 percent. Lawmakers in the early part of this century felt a nearly 1 percent drop in income tax would be too jarring, instead making it a more gradual year-over-year decline that necessitated certain revenue metrics. The income tax in 2019 has been 5.05 percent.

Vaping

A law restricting the sale of flavored tobacco and vaping products will take effect June 1. Under the law, the number of flavored nicotine vaping products will be limited to smoking bars where they must be smoked on-site. There will also be a 75 percent excise tax on cigarettes. The legislation, while not an overall ban, will make Massachusetts the first with such restrictions. It will take hold after a controversial emergency ban from Gov. Charlie Baker that expired in December.