New laws go into effect at state and Federal level

If you text, buy alcohol or even get a store-bought tan, new laws started Thursday may affect you.

Every first of the year and first of July, federal and state legislatures unleash new laws on the public.

They cover a broad range of targets that affect all of us in one way or another.

In Ohio, employers must now provide two weeks of unpaid leave to partners or parents of injured members of the Armed Forces.

Ohio state governed health insurance plans must now offer parents the opportunity to cover their children up to age 28.

And Buckeyes who are either prosecutors or defense attorneys like Greg Cohen, now have to share strategic information with each other more than ever before.

"It puts us on an even playing field," said Cohen.

In the Bluegrass State, you better put away your BlackBerry while driving.

Texting is now illegal behind the wheel, but the state is giving you time to change your habits, according to Tom Scheben with the Boone County Sheriff's Office. "From July 1 of 10, through December 31 of this year, the only thing we can do is issue warnings. Come January 1 of 2011, we'll be issuing citations," said Scheben.

Kentucky minors can no longer use cell phones at all while driving.

If you buy alcohol in Indiana, you now have to show your ID, no matter how old you are.

That doesn't sit well with Joe Eagle, who is a regular at Whitey's Package Liquor in Lawrenceburg. "I've been coming in this store for probably 10, 15 years, and everybody knows me. Laws are laws, but they're getting ridiculous."

The Federal health care legislation now slaps a 10 percent tanning tax tax on anyone who wants to bronze themselves indoors. But there is a loophole for spray on tans, because they don't use UV light.

As is always the case, some people like the new laws and some people hate them and we only have six months to get used to them before another batch go into effect.