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New Year Brings 40,697 New US Laws
 Lily Fu - Fox News
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January 04, 2010
It's a new year and a time for a slew of new laws around the country.
The Christian Science Monitor reports that more than 40,000 laws were enacted by state legislatures in 2009, and at least 30 statutes kick into law on New Year's Day.
Here is a sampling of some of the more noteworthy:
• New Hampshire will become the fifth state in the union to allow same-sex marriage. The legislation was signed by Democratic Gov. John Lynch who personally opposes gay marriage. On New Year's Day, the first weddings will take place. The Associated Press reports that through late December, 40 gay couples had applied for marriage licenses valid for 90 days.
• California will be blazing trails by becoming the first state to bar restaurants from using oils, margarines and shortening containing more than a gram of trans fat per serving. Those in violation will pay a $1,000 fine. The law was signed in 2008 and followed similar bans in New York City, Philadelphia, Stamford, Ct., and Montgomery County, Md.
• In Illinois texting while driving will become illegal, along with talking on the phone while driving through a school or construction zone. Eighteen states currently ban texting while driving
• Smoking is also continuing to get a bad rap, and North Carolina will be the latest state to ban lighting up inside most bars and restaurants.
• Teens in Texas will have to start going to tanning salons with an adult.
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