Last year, Democrats took control of both chambers of the Legislature for the first time in decades.

They used that power to enact several sweeping reforms that take effect this year.

Among the changes:

— Lawmakers repealed the state’s right-to-work law that forbid unions from charging so-called “fair-share fees” to employees who decide not to join the union that represents them in contract negotiations. Because of an earlier U.S. Supreme Court decision, the repeal only applies to private-sector unions.

— Lawmakers passed new gun control laws that expand background checks to all gun purchases, require the safe storage of firearms and allow courts to temporarily take guns away from people deemed a danger to themselves or others.

— Lawmakers expanded the state’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation.

— Lawmakers passed a law allowing 16-year-olds to pre-register to vote so they can automatically cast ballots in the first election after their 18th birthday.

— Lawmakers repealed a law requiring schools to hold back third-graders who can’t read at their grade level.

As well, the state’s minimum wage increased from $10.10 per hour to $10.33 per hour on New Year’s Day.

Those laws will change the way Michiganders live. We encourage everyone to study up on the new laws and how they might affect you in the new year.

As well, it’s important to remember those new laws and how they affect you and consider your feelings about Democrats’ changes when you head to the ballot box this year.