welcome back. the new year brings new laws. they include a number of gun related measures as well as the strongest restriction on smoking in the nation. nbc s pete williams takes a look. reporter: hawaii begins the new year as the first state in the nation to raise the legal smoking age to 21. it applies not only to the sale or use of tobacco products, but to using electronic cigarettes known as vaping. i think it s better that we re increasing the age because they re starting younger. reporter: and in texas, adults with the right permits no longer need to hide the handguns they carry in their holsters. proponents of the new open carry law say making guns more visible will deter mass shooting, though most police chiefs opposed i.
does it make sense to have people running around with guns visible, and i think the answer is absolutely not. reporter: a different approach in california. it s now illegal there for holders of concealed carry permits to bring hand guns on to school campuses. the city of albany, new york, requires owners of firearms to store their guns in a secure container or install trigger locks. locks of a different kind in illinois on some prescription pain killers. it s the first state to test whether having locking pill bottles can cut down on those drugs containing hydrocodone. it won t stop all fatalities but it will reduce accidental overdose, kids getting addicted to something. reporter: tennessee launches the first statewide registry of animal abusers. they hope to encourage more humane conduct and keep animals out of the hands of known abusers. leaving pets in extreme heat or