New Year brings new laws in the Philly area impacting everything from tolls to grocery bags

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- The New Year brings with it new laws that impact everything from wages to tolls to how some people get their groceries.

In Phoenixville, Pa., Jan. 1 marked the first day of a new ban on single-use plastic bags in the city.

"I didn't know. So we had to get a paper bag," said Calvin McMurren of Spring City, Pa. as he left the Giant grocery store in Phoenixville.

Many of the shoppers Action News spotted left the store with carts full of unbagged items, not wanting to purchase bags from the store.

"They have reusable bags for $1.50 and paper bags for 15 cents," said Samantha Bourne of Phoenixville.

The city's plastic bag ban prohibits retail establishments from providing single-use plastic bags or non-recyclable paper bags.

"Everybody seemed kind of annoyed by it, but I think it's better for the environment," said Carlee Fumo of Phoenixville.

"I think it's awesome! They're saving the environment," said Brieanna Borzumati of Spring City.

"I don't like it," said Donna McMurren of Spring City. "It makes me have to carry my own. I don't remember... (and) it's hard for everyone grocery shopping, then you have to pay for bags as well."

Like it or not, the plastic bag ban is one of many new laws going into effect for 2025.

One of them makes changes to the Safe Haven Law in Pennsylvania.

Urgent Care centers are now included as places where a person can surrender a newborn up to 28 days old.

Another new Pennsylvania law requires all state-regulated health plans including Medicaid to cover biomarker testing for cancer.

The American Cancer Society calls it a "game-changer" in cancer care.

Abortion access is the focus on a new Delaware law, which requires Medicaid and insurance to cover abortion costs. Also in Delaware, the minimum wage is increasing to $15 an hour.

The minimum wage is also going up to $15.49 an hour in New Jersey.

Another thing that's going up in that state: tolls.

The average toll on the New Jersey Turnpike will increase 16 cents.

"Eating into your pocket anymore. It's horrible," said McMurren.

Residents have mixed feeling about a number of the new laws including Phoenixville's plastic bag ban, which is something to which some residents have become accustom.

"We're from New York state. It's pretty ubiquitous in New York state. It's pretty much everywhere," said Michael O'Brien of Phoenixville.

But shoppers like Joe McCullagh wish the New Year would have stuck with the old law on plastic bags.

"I'm used to putting things in a bag," he said. "I pay for them! They raise the price (on groceries). I'm entitled to a bag."

2025 will also bring higher salaries for more than 1,300 Pennsylvania officials, including lawmakers and the governor. They'll get a 3.4% pay raise.

Another new law aims to increase the number of teachers in New Jersey. It removes the requirement of a basic skills test for teaching candidates.