7 Law Changes in 2015

1. Florida consumers get a small break on insurance premiums Jan. 1

Florida Catastrophe (CAT) Fund is eliminating the 1.3 percent assessment on policies issued or renewed starting Jan. 1. The price cut will affect all sorts of insurance policies: homeowner, auto, business, rentals, religious and charity institutions, local governments and school boards.

2. A new law will require children through age 5 to be placed in car seats or booster seats while riding in vehicles. Effective January 1, 2015.

3. The state's minimum wage will increase from $7.93 to $8.05 an hour, thanks to a 2004 constitutional amendment that leads to annual adjustments. Effective January 1, 2015.

4. Employers will see an overall 5.2 percent decrease in workers-compensation insurance rates. Effective January 1, 2015.

5. New Law Requiring Background Screening for Massage Therapists prior to Jan 31, 2015

Effective July 1, 2014, the following individuals must undergo a criminal background screening prior to January 31, 2015:

• All massage therapists licensed in this state prior to July 1, 2014;
• Any person with an ownership interest in a massage establishment licensed in this state prior to July 1, 2014, or
• If the massage establishment is owned by a corporation that has more than $250,000 of business assets in this state, the owner, officer or individual directly involved in the management of the establishment will be required to submit to background screening.

6. A law will go into effect for millions of families whose homes have battery-powered smoke alarms. In an effort to reduce residential fire fatalities the Florida Building Code will require homeowners to install 10-year, sealed-battery smoke alarms when replacing outdated or non-working alarms or installing new ones.

7. Gay Marriage Ban - The date to watch is January 6, 2015. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi earns the title: "modern-day Anita Bryant'" Read more about the controversy and follow the timeline here.