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A number of laws passed by the Texas Legislature this year will take effect as of January 1st. The new laws include a ban on diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Texas colleges and universities, a doubling of the franchise tax exemption for Texas businesses, and a youth diversion program for kids accused of certain misdemeanors. There are also new penalties for e-cigarette ads geared to appeal to minors, access to online documents and notarization, and the creation of a specialty license plate referring to the song "Texas, Our Texas."