New Housing, Safety Laws Take Effect in Washington, North Dakota, Colorado

Several new laws are set to take effect across multiple states, impacting education, housing, public safety, and more. In North Dakota, starting August 1, schools will ban personal cell phones during the school day, Interstate speed limits will increase from 75 to 80 mph, and commercial websites must verify the age of users accessing sexually explicit content to protect minors. Washington state will implement over 300 new laws on July 27, including a controversial mandate for religious leaders to report child abuse, though the requirement is blocked for confessions, and a $100 million grant program to hire more police officers and support broader public safety efforts. Both Colorado and Washington are enacting legislation to address housing shortages by encouraging condo construction and lot splitting, streamlining building processes, and reforming construction defect laws to increase affordable housing options. These housing laws aim to reduce costs, enhance tenant protections, and boost homeownership opportunities by making development more feasible and reducing liability risks. While outdoor and fishing enthusiasts noted changing conditions and ongoing conservation efforts, new outdoors-related regulations in North Dakota are also coming into effect on August 1.