New laws are now officially in effect in the Hudson Valley and across New York state.

Scarsdale now has a ban on smoking both cigarettes and cannabis on public property.

Police will begin with just warnings during a 60-day transition period.

Starting March 1, those smoking in public will be fined $100.

New York is addressing issues within nursing homes that came to light during the pandemic.

New York is also banning styrofoam and packing peanuts this year. It does not apply to prepackaged food.

The goal is to cut down on products made out of non-biodegradable material.

The state will also be working to eliminate fake vaccine cards in 2022.

New York is establishing a COVID-19 Vaccination Fraud Task Force which includes Westchester County District Attorney Mimi Roach.

The misdemeanor crime covers creating, possessing or selling a fraudulent vaccine card and is punishable by up to one year in prison.

All nursing home facilities will also need to undergo an audit and comply to a new set of standards.

The evaluation covers infection control, personal protective equipment, staffing and communication.

If a facility does not meet the standards then the Department of Health will continuously audit it until the facility is in compliance.