More than 15 new laws will go into effect in the DMV area on July 1st. Find out below the most important keys to understanding these new pieces of legislation and how they will affect you if you live in this area.
Washington D.C.
Minimum wage increase: Workers earning minimum wage in DC will receive a pay increase in early July. Workers will receive a raise regardless of the size of the company they work for or whether they have access to tips.
Starting July 1st, hourly workers will receive a $17.00 pay increase.
Instead, those workers who receive tips will receive an increase in their base wage of $8 an hour. If this salary plus tips are less than the new minimum wage, employers will have to pay the difference to their employees.
mARYLANDS
Recreational Marijuana will be legalized in Maryland: As of July 1, adults 21 and older may use and possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis flower, up to 12 grams of concentrated cannabis products not to exceed 750 mg THC. Starting this Saturday, it will be legal to buy cannabis products at licensed dispensaries.
Montgomery County Minimum Wage Increase: The county will increase the minimum wage to $16.70 for individuals working for large employers (with 51 or more employees)
The wage increase will be $15 for workers of medium employers and $14.50 for those who work for small employers.
VIRGINIA
End of tax free period: Typically during the first weekend of August, consumers in Virginia enjoy an annual break from the 5.3% state sales tax. This policy will no longer be in effect as of July 1.
This means that there will be no tax exemptions for hurricane prevention items, school supplies, certified items Energy Star or items with certification WaterSense in the following back-to-school season.
New rules for changing lanes: Until now, drivers in Virginia are required to change lanes as soon as possible to give way to ambulances and other emergency vehicles.
Starting July 1, all drivers in the state will be required to change lanes or slow down to yield to any vehicle with flashing lights or other emergency signals. If they do not comply with the new regulations, drivers could be fined up to $250.
A new definition of antisemitism: In early May, the state of Virginia passed a law that would implement the definition of anti-Semitism accepted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. This new definition will enter into force as of July 1st.
The new definition will be used in the area of education, as well as for job training. The measure also works for tracking anti-Semitic hate crimes at the national and state level.
Defibrillators in schools: Starting this Saturday, the state of Virginia will require school boards to develop a plan to install automated external defibrillators (AEDs) in all schools in the state through all levels of education.
This law requires the state Department of Health to publish a list of funding sources to help schools meet this goal by August 1, 2024.
Permit for concealed carry of firearms: Virginians can now take training and safety courses with the American Concealed Carry Firearms Association to demonstrate competency and obtain a concealed carry firearms permit.
Rental damages in excess of security deposit: As of July 1, landlords will have 30 days, instead of 15, to provide their tenants with an itemized list of all the damages and cost to repair their properties in case these damages exceed the security deposit agreed at the beginning. of the rental agreement. This law will be in force until June 30, 2024.
Personal items in towed vehicles: Tow truck operators will now not be able to deny vehicle owners access to their cars to retrieve personal belongings, under a new law. In addition, another piece of legislation provides that if a towed vehicle is intended to be sold at auction, personal belongings must be removed from the vehicle before it is sold.
