The 2 BIGGEST New Laws That Are Now In Effect In Utah!

Welcome to 2025, Utah! While you’re busy making resolutions you may or may not keep, here are two new laws that are already changing the game. One might make your car look a little cooler, and the other? Let’s just say Big Tech has some explaining to do.

Bye-Bye Front License Plate (S.B. 45)

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Let’s start with the one that’s about to make your ride a little sleeker. Starting now, Utah drivers can ditch their front license plates. That’s right—no more ugly brackets ruining your car’s aesthetics!

This law doesn’t just save you from an automotive eyesore; it’s also saving the state a cool $3 million a year. Senator Daniel McCay, the mastermind behind this plate makeover, pointed out that compliance with the old law was already a joke. (Let’s be honest: half of you weren’t putting them on anyway.)

Oh, and there’s more! Instead of juggling two annoying stickers on your plates, you’ll now have one streamlined decal. Fancy, right? The money saved on plates will go toward boosting highway patrol trooper availability. So, fewer plates, more cops—sounds like a fair trade.

Smartphone Smackdown (S.B. 104)

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Now for the headline-grabber: the Children’s Device Protection Act. Utah is taking a sledgehammer to Big Tech’s laissez-faire attitude when it comes to kids and smartphones. From now on, any device made after January 1, 2025, must come with an automatic filter for minors, blocking "obscene material."

Here’s how it works: When setting up the device, the user has to input their age. If they’re under 18, the filter kicks in automatically. Parents can tweak the settings with a password, but anyone else messing with it? That’s a crime.

And here’s where it gets juicy: manufacturers like Apple and Samsung are now legally required to comply—or face hefty fines. Thousands of dollars per violation, to be exact. Utah’s Attorney General and even parents can sue if these filters aren’t in place.