Big Government. Small Brains. Dumb Laws.

Explanation

Mississippi has passed a bill to ban its towns and counties from regulating portion sizes, requiring posted calorie counts, or yanking toys from kids' meals, reports NPR. In a direct response to New York City's recently quashed attempt to cap soda sizes, the "anti-Bloomberg bill" will restrict the regulation of "consumer incentive items and nutrition labeling" to the state legislature alone. The Republican governor is expected to sign it.

Read more about this law.

Explanation

Source: Top 13 New Laws for 2013-HB 5056.

Explanation

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AB-2078 : Sexual activity with detained persons.

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State of California Labor Code: Bill Number AB 2396, Chapter 260.

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Illinois General Assembly: Full Text of SB0758.

Explanation

The hope is that restricting ownership will lower the town's burgeoning cat population.

More Info: Wellington Limits Number of Cats For Owners

Explanation

Source: 9 Strange New Laws for 2013

Explanation

In California, previously, exceptions had been made for hunting. Bad news for dogs, good news for bears and bobcats.

Source: 9 Strange New Laws for 2013

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Explanation

The City of Bellingham is taking a big step forward in reducing litter and unnecessary waste, protecting water and wildlife, and saving money by reducing the use of plastic bags in our community.

The Bellingham City Council approved the Single Use Carry Out Bag Ordinance (commonly known as the "plastic bag ban") in July 2011. The new law is effective Aug. 1, 2012.

More Info: Bellingham's Plastic Bag Ban takes effect Aug. 1, 2012

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General Assembly of North Carolina- Session 2011

Read full bill:House Bill 819.

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The ordinance (Refer to Chapter 9.10, Part 13) began on January 1, 2012, with the following provisions:

• Grocery stores, pharmacies, small and large retailers can no longer provide plastic carryout bags at checkout.
• Stores may still provide paper bags made of 40% post-consumer recycled material and charge a minimum of 10 cents for each bag. After the initial two years, the store charge will increase to a minimum of 25 cents for paper bags. The charge will be retained by the store.
• Customers purchasing food with WIC and CalFresh “food stamps” may be provided a recycled content paper bag at no cost for the first two years of the ban.

Full text of law: Chapter 9.10, Part 13

Explanation

Explanation

The Rock Island Rain Water tax is used to deal with storm water runoff. It taxes people that pave large areas and have large roofs at a higher rate than people who say have sod roofs and small driveways.

Citizens are taxed because it rains on their property. They are not taxed for flood waters, water dripping from the air conditioner or washing the car at home. This tax pays for city jobs and paperwork.

Full text of the Law

City Services - Stormwater Utility - Stormwater Rates and Credits

All developed properties in Rock Island pay a Stormwater Utility charge based upon an estimate of the property's impervious area. Impervious areas are hard surfaced features such as rooftops, driveways, sidewalks, patios, parking lots, and awnings. Stormwater Utility rates are included on the monthly or quarterly City utility bills whenever possible.

Stormwater Credits

The owners of large properties may be able to reduce Stormwater Utility charges by the construction and maintenance of on-site storm water management facilities (such as detention basins) designed to reduce runoff quantity and improve runoff quality. If the facilities meet the requirements of the Rock Island Stormwater Credit Manual, the Stormwater Utility charge will be reduced.

The Stormwater Utility fund pays for City staff, equipment, supplies, infrastructure maintenance, levee maintenance, emergency repairs, engineering services, construction projects, project reviews, field reviews, ordinance enforcement, and more.

APPENDIX D
STORM WATER CONTROL
ARTICLE I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Original Adoption...April 14, 2003
Sec. 1-9. Exempted Discharges: