House lawmakers unanimously approved the legislation Monday. It requires both parents be notified if their child is a victim of possible abuse or neglect. The Senate also approved the bill.

Eighteen new Minnesota laws go into effect on Wednesday. Among them, laws that: expand the list of illegal synthetic drugs; create stiffer penalties for neglecting vulnerable adults; and offer additional options for overwhelmed parents who intend to abandon their babies.

A new law takes effect in Wisconsin on Thursday that bans drivers with an instruction permit or probationary license from “using a cellular or other wireless telephone except to report an emergency.” The law is primarily aimed at teens, whose leading cause of death nationwide is traffic crashes, and distracted driving leads to many of those crashes, public safety officials say.

The Republican controlled House and Senate are looking to make nearly a dozen changes this year, but without Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton's approval. Lawmakers can make this happen by passing legislation that puts an amendment on the November ballot. KARE 11 reports the same sex marriage legislation is the only amendment on this year's ballot right now, but others being considered include Voter ID laws, Right to Work issues, abortion restrictions and tax limitations.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius will be in the Twin Cities on the two-year anniversary of the landmark health care legislation. Sebelius will highlight insurance policies that she says discriminate against women. Meanwhile, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is using the law's anniversary in a fundraising appeal built around her goal of repealing it.