As one year ends another begins, and while there's been a lot to wrap your head around in 2023 there's a bunch of new laws coming in for 2024 which you need to understand.
Some of these laws have already been signed off and have dates for the changes pencilled in, others are expected to come into effect in 2024 but still have some legislative hoops to jump through.
Without further ado, here's the laws you need to look out for in 2024:
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Banning XL Bully dogs
Ok, so technically the ban on XL Bully dogs comes into effect on 31 December, which is just one day before 2024 kicks in.
However, there's some things you need to know, so with the initial ban makes it illegal to sell, gift, abandon, rehome or swap the dangerous breed of dog.
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If you already have an XL Bully then you can keep them, but they have to be muzzled and on a lead when outside, and from 1 Feburary 2024 onwards it will be illegal to own an XL Bully that's not registered on the Index of Exempted Dogs.
XL Bully dogs older than one year must be neutered by 30 June next year, while younger ones must have had it done by the end of 2024.
National Insurance
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From 6 January onwards the main rate of National Insurance will be cut from 12 percent to 10.
This will save a Brit on the UK's average salary of £35,000 about £450 more a year, which sounds pretty nice though the government will have less to spend on important stuff.
Offenders at their Sentencing
In 2024 judges will have the power to force convicted criminals to attend their sentencing.
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The government put this legislation through following the Lucy Letby trial, where she did not attend her sentence being handed down.
Childcare
A lot of new laws will kick in for April 2024, including changes to childcare support.
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At first eligible working parents of two-year-old children will be able to get 15 hours of child support, and by September that will extend to children between nine months and three-year-old children.
By the following year eligible parents of children under the age of five will be able to get 30 hours of childcare a week.
Death Certificates
From cradle to grave, also coming in April 2024 is the change that medical examiners will be able to provide independent scrutiny of deaths.
They will provide a point of contact for the bereaved to ask questions to, and a new medical certificate listing the cause of death and the details of the medical examiner will be introduced.
Employment Laws
Something else coming in April is a change to flexible working, with staff to be granted the right to request flexible working from their employer as soon as they begin.
At present this right is only open to staff who have worked for an employer for 26 weeks or more, and is being changed to day one.
Anti-Spiking
There will be a clarification in the Criminal Justice Bill that spiking someone is illegal, and there will be measures introduced to tackle the dreadful deed.
Training door staff to spot potential perpetrators will be done, while testing kits will allow venues to determine if someone's drink has been spiked in real time.
An online tool will also be used so people can anonymously report they believe they've been the victim of spiking.
Vaping Crackdown
In the King's Speech last month it was confirmed that the government would launch a 'further crackdown on youth vaping'.
They are facing calls to ban disposable vapes by the end of 2024, though whether this government will still be in office by then remains to be seen.
Leaseholds
The Leasehold and Freehold bill ought to become law next year, with the changes intending to make it easier and cheaper for leaseholders to buy freehold.
What does all that mean? I don't know mate, I can't afford to buy a home in this economy, but the government has made a guide to the bill.
Standard lease terms are going to increase to 990 years, which I hope is a change for the better.
Minimum Wage Increase
Yet another thing changing in April 2024 is an increase in the national minimum wage (you don't think they're trying to look better ahead of a general election, do you?).
For those aged 21 and over it'll go from £10.42 to £11.44, an increase of 9.8 percent for the lowest earners in the country, otherwise known as £1.02.
For 18 to 20-year-olds it'll go from £7.49 up to £8.60, an increase of £1.11.
For those who are 16, 17 or on an apprentice rate the wage is increasing by £1.12 to make it £6.40.
Care Home and Hospital Visits
The government announced that visiting rights for care homes, hospitals and hospices will be protected.
Visits will be considered part of the standard of care equal to patients having access to food, drink and qualified staff.
Rules of the Road
The Highway Code changes often enough already, and changes coming in the new year have not yet been confirmed.
However, AutoTrader has predicted that the eyesight test for driving may be changed.
At the moment you need to be able to read a number plate from 20 metres away, and a medical panel is being consulted on what the test could do including potential tests for different light levels.
Supermarket Sweep
This one's more of an environmental thing.
Legislation which ought to kick in next year aims to have businesses that have a global annual turnover of more than £50 million and use over 500 tonnes of regulated commodities unable to use them if they're found to have come from land that is linked to illegal deforestation.
That means products with palm oil, cocoa, soy, beef and leather are among the products which cannot be made on illegal land as the UK's supermarkets will not be allowed to sell them.
Joe Harker