OHIO — The new year is upon us, and with it comes some major political changes for the Buckeye State. 

There are several new laws taking effect in 2025, including the allowance of religious expression days in schools and a ban on transgender students using school bathrooms that fit their gender identities. 

Gov. Mike DeWine signed the bill in July, known as the "Religious Expression Days" or "R.E.D." Act. 

The bill requires each public school to adopt policies reasonably accomodating the religious befliefs and practices of students and require policies regarding certain expectations related to the performance of staff member professional duties.

School policies must meet certain requirements including allowing a student in grades K-12 to be absent for up to three days each school year based on reasons of faith, religion or spiritual belief system. The district cannot impose an academic penalty if a student is absent as permitted by the policy. 

Students will also be able to participate in interscholastic athletics or other extracurriculars on days when they are absent from school because of a religious expression day. Principals will mandate teachers create and provide the alternative exam, or academic requirement, time if the absence conflicts with it.

Schools will be required to provide students alternative accomodations regarding examinations or academic requirements who misses because of an expression day.

Principals cannot approve of more than three written requests per school year by parents or guardians for religious expression day abscenes. While principals must approve without scrutiny into the sincerity of a student's religion or spiritual belief system, they can verify the request by contacting the parent or guardian whose signature appears.

Principals can deny the request if a parent or guardian disputes having signed it. 

DeWine signed the bill on Nov. 27, also called the "Protect All Students Act" regarding single-sex bathroom access in primary schools, secondary schools and universities or institutes of higher education. The law will not apply to school employees, emergencies or those helping young children or those with disabilities. 

Schools will still need to provide single-use and family restrooms for use. They are also to designate separate bathrooms, locker rooms and overnight acommodations based on the student's assigned gender at or near birth. There are at least 11 states with similar laws banning transgender women and girls from women's restrooms at public schools, and in some cases government buildings.

In total, there are 26 states with laws restarting or banning gender-transition care for transgender minors. There are are 24 states with laws dictating which sport competitions transgender girls and women can participate in.

The bill was debated for 19 months before the GOP Legislature cleared in on Nov. 13. It was added to a separate piece of legislation by the Ohio House related to the College Credit Plus program. The program allows high schoolers to earn college credit.

Minimum wage will increase on New Years Day from $10.45 per hour for non-tipped employees and $5.25 per hour for tipped employees to $10.70 per hour for non-tipped employees and $5.35 for tipped employees. 

The increase is 25 cents for non-tipped workers and 10 cents for tipped workers.

The minimum wage will apply to employees of businesses with annual gross receipts totaling more than $394,000 per year.

Minimum wage increases each year because of a constitutional amendment passed in Nov. 2006 stating that Ohio's minimum wage increases Jan. 1 each year by a rate of inflation. Ohio's minimum wage is tied to the Consumer Price Index for urban wage earners and clerical workers over the 12-month period prior to September.

From Sept. 1, 2023 to Aug. 31, 2024 the Consumer Price Index increased by 2.4%.

At smaller companies with annual gross receipts of $394,000 or less per year after Jan. 1, and for 14- and 15-year-olds the state's minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. The state wage is tied to the federal minimum wage which requires an act of Congress and the president's signature to change.

In May, DeWine signed the bill requiring every Ohio school district to establish an official policy regarding cell phone use during school hours, aiming to minimize student use in K-12 schools.

The policies must emphasize that student cell phone use be limited during the school day, reduce distractions caused by cell phones in class settings and if a school board determines it appropiate, or if included in a student's individual education program, allow for students to use cell phones or other electronic communication devices for student learning, to monitor a health concern or to address a health concern.

Schools must adopt their policies by July 1, 2025 ahead of the 2025-2026 school year,

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce had to create a model policy for districts to use as they create their policies.

Spectrum News 1 Digital Producer Lydia Taylor and the Associated Press contributed to this report.