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A look at some of the new laws coming to Colorado in 2019

Minimum wage is going up and full-strength beer is coming to grocery stores.

With a new year, comes new rules.

Here is a look at some of the new laws that will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2019.

Full-strength beer

Full-strength beer will be on grocery and convenience store shelves starting Tuesday.

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Senate Bill 197, which passed in 2016, essentially changed the definition of what’s called a fermented malt beverage, or what’s commonly called “3.2 beer." That distinction is going away. 

Under the new law, store employees will have to be at least 18 years old to sell beer, and any store that wants to sell beer must be at least 500 feet from any school.

Liquor and wine will still only be available at liquor stores. 

Minimum wage increase

The state's minimum wage will go up to $11.10 on Jan. 1.

Right now, the minimum wage is $10.20.

In November 2016, Colorado voters approved Amendment 70, a plan to raise the wage for any non-tipped worker in the state from $8.31 per hour to $12 an hour in steps by 2020. 

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 This is the third time year of the minimum wage increases as part of the amendment. 

New minimum wage requirements will take effect in 20 states and nearly two dozen cities around the start of the new year, affecting millions of workers. The state wage hikes range from an extra nickel per hour in Alaska to a $1-an-hour bump in Maine, Massachusetts and for California employers with more than 25 workers. 

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Immigrant drivers' licenses

Starting Jan. 1, Colorado residents who can't prove they're in the country legally can use a Social Security number to get a driver's license.

Right now, those people have to use an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number to get their license.

That process has led to massive backups at the DMV. 

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The new law should help by giving undocumented people an option to renew licenses online instead of having to fight for limited appointments.

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