The Circle requirements are for NY State. If other states will follow then please check your state fishing laws.
The reasoning behind the Circle hook. its not about what bait you use. its about being able to unhook the fish as quickly as gentle as possible for being released back into the rivers. Unfortately the mortality rate is too high from under sized stripe bass being caught and released and ending up being dead in the water. Being a circle hook should be alot easier to unhook with fingers or most people use is pair of pliers.