North Carolina joins other states across the nation with new legislative laws going into effect at the start of 2025. Among these, include new legislation to do with auto insurance, ticket prices, juvenile justice, and income tax rate changes. These updates reflect ongoing efforts to address evolving economic, social, and legal issues. As these changes are implemented, residents can expect to see significant shifts in various aspects of daily life, from financial planning to legal proceedings.
Higher costs for North Carolina drivers
As the new year begins, North Carolina drivers will face higher costs, with new state laws which came into effect Wednesday. These include increased toll road fees and a rise in the minimum required auto insurance coverage. The Department of Transportation stated that the toll road fee increases will only amount to a few extra cents per trip. While this may not seem significant for occasional drivers, frequent users could feel the impact more. However, a more noticeable cost increase comes from a new law that raises toll road late fees by up to 50%. These tolls and late fees are crucial for funding the maintenance and upkeep of the toll roads.
Auto insurance changes have also been implemented for 2025. In the event of a car accident, the driver at fault is responsible for covering the damage. If the driver has insurance (required by law in North Carolina) their policy will cover at least a portion of the costs depending on the level of coverage and the extent of the damage.
Currently, the minimum coverage required is $25,000 for property damage and $60,000 for medical expenses. However, the new legislation will increase the minimum for property damage coverage to $50,000 and raise the medical liability minimum to $100,000. While many drivers already carry insurance that meets these higher coverage levels, those with lower coverage plans may soon see their premiums rise to reflect the increased requirements.
Controversial law to go into effect for homebuilders
Other controversial laws taking effect at the start of 2025 include significant changes to the state’s home construction regulations. These changes are expected to benefit homebuilders, as they will face fewer requirements for energy efficiency and storm-proofing against natural disasters. Legislators have expressed hopes that these adjustments will lower costs for homebuilders, ultimately leading to more affordable housing prices for the public.
However, Governor Cooper has warned that the changes could lead to higher energy bills for homeowners and might jeopardize North Carolina’s eligibility for federal disaster relief in the future if homes are not built to withstand storms effectively.
New rules for Ticketmaster
Following the popularity of the Taylor Swift Eras tour, North Carolina will also be implementing stricter regulations and rules for ticket resellers for concerts and sporting events. The surge in demand for tickets to Swift’s tour led to widespread frustration among fans, many of whom were unable to secure tickets due to bots and scalpers who purchased large quantities only to resell them at inflated prices.
This practice has become more prevalent in recent years, as online platforms have made it easier for resellers to profit from high-demand events. The major popularity of the Eras tour (which is estimated to have made over one billion dollars in revenue) brought the issue into sharp focus, sparking public outcry for fans needing to fork out thousands of dollars for nosebleed seats and prompting lawmakers to take action.
The new regulations aim to create a fairer system, curbing scalping and ensuring that more tickets are available to the general public at reasonable prices. With tighter regulations, North Carolina hopes to restore balance to the ticketing market and provide a better experience for fans seeking access to live events as well as join other states across the nation with changing laws for drivers.
