By Shirleen Guerra | The Center Square
(The Center Square) – As the new year rings in, Virginia and Maryland are rolling out a new set laws taking effect Jan. 1.
In Virginia, the changes include a mix of laws passed during the last General Assembly session and updates already scheduled under existing statutes, meaning some of the shifts were set in motion years ago.
Beginning Jan. 1, the minimum wage in Virginia will rise to $12.77 an hour, up from $12.41, following an annual inflation adjustment calculated by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry. The increase applies to most employees statewide, including full-time, part-time, and temporary workers, with limited exemptions.
Virginia is also implementing new guardrails for social media platforms. Starting Jan. 1, social media platforms will be required to verify a user’s age and limit users under 16 to one hour a day, unless a parent adjusts that limit.
Several new health-related laws are also taking effect in the commonwealth. Beginning Jan. 1, health insurance plans will be prohibited from charging co-pays for certain breast cancer testing, including mammograms and MRIs, and other breast ultrasounds. Additional changes update insurance coverage requirements for prostate cancer screenings.
Virginia is also cracking down on unwanted marketing texts. Starting Jan. 1, people will be able to opt out by replying “STOP” or “UNSUBSCRIBE,” and companies will be required to stop sending messages. Once someone opts out, businesses are barred from texting that person again for at least 10 years under the new law.
Another change affects how court fines and fees are spelled out in traffic and criminal cases. Beginning Jan. 1, defendants will be able to request an itemized breakdown showing exactly what they owe, including fines, restitution and other costs. Court clerks will also have to provide an updated balance and payment history if requested, either online or in writing.
In Maryland, several new laws taking effect Jan. 1 focus on worker protections and housing stability.
A new law will require transportation network companies such as Uber and Lyft to provide drivers with a weekly summary of their earnings. The summary must include the total fares collected, any additional fees charged to riders, the amount earned by the driver that week, and the share of the fares and fees that went to the driver.
Another law expands cancer screening coverage for firefighters. Counties that offer self-insured employee health benefit plans will be required to cover the cost of certain preventive cancer screenings for professional firefighters, eliminating out-of-pocket costs for those services.
Maryland is also making changes to protect heirs who are living in inherited homes. Counties will be required to hold off on tax sales for certain owner-occupied properties when an heir still lives in the home.