Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has signed a bill forbidding local governments from limiting the questions businesses can ask during job interviews, a move that bucks the "ban-the-box" trend impacting employers nationwide.

On March 13, Washington state Governor Jay Inslee signed into law the Fair Chance Act, which prohibits employers from inquiring about a job candidate's criminal history before that individual has been deemed qualified for a desired position.

Beginning in July, Vermont will allow its citizenry to possess and cultivate limited amounts of recreational marijuana, becoming the ninth state to permit non-medicinal use of the drug for adults age 21 and older

States are expanding the types of criminal records eligible for sealing and expungement, part of a nationwide wave of so-called "second chance" or "clean slate" bills created to limit employers' access to certain criminal records. Protected records under the new legislation include minor misdemeanors and even low-level felonies, a move designed to improve the job prospects of ex-offenders, supporters say. 

As the calendar turns, companies should be educating themselves about new employment laws and regulations on the books for 2018. Understanding laws related to salary history, criminal background checks and other issues could save businesses time and hassle in the new year and beyond