New tanning, liquor, abortion, other laws in effect

RALEIGH, N.C. — The legislative session may be over, but new laws passed by the General Assembly this year will continue to take effect over the next three months.

Generally, Oct. 1, Nov. 1, Dec. 1 and Jan. 1 are the dates on which most new laws take effect if they didn't do so immediately. The delays give law enforcement, state and local governments and those affected time to adjust their policies and procedures.

TANNING: The Jim Fulghum Teen Skin Cancer Prevention Act, named for a former Wake County lawmaker, prohibits anyone under the age of 18 from using a tanning bed.

DISTILLERY SALES: North Carolina distilleries are now allowed to sell one bottle per person per year to tourists who visit the manufacturing plant. The measure was aimed at boosting tourism and helping local distillers of liquor products promote their brands. Although this law technically went into effect earlier this year, new Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission rules went into effect Thursday.

PAROLE: Senate Bill 675 allows state parole officials to review cases every two years, rather than once a year, for inmates who were convicted of sexually violent offenses. This measure was put in place to cut down on the number of hearings victims and their families need to attend.

AUTOCYCLES: New rules clarify how three-wheeled autocycles should be regulated.

SUNDAY HUNTING: New rules governing Sunday hunting will allow some shooting of deer on Sundays. Hunting is still prohibited between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., and there are restrictions on how close to a church hunters can come. Also, in Wake County and other counties with more than 700,000 residents, Sunday hunting remains prohibited.

RIGHT TO TRY: Terminally ill patients are now able to access experimental treatments not fully approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

IRAN DIVESTMENT: State agencies, most notably the State Treasurer's Office, are prohibited from investing in or contracting with companies that do business with Iran's energy sector. Officials with the Treasurer's Office say the state dropped Iran-linked stocks years ago.

ABORTION: Measures increasing the waiting period for abortions from 24 hours to 72 hours are now in effect.