New DC, Maryland and Virginia laws take effect July 2024
WASHINGTON (7News) — Starting July 1, residents of Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia will see a variety of new laws come into effect, bringing significant changes to minimum wage, traffic regulations, election procedures and even concert ticket sales.
Here's what you need to know about new laws taking effect across the DMV:
D.C.
Minimum wage: The minimum wage in D.C. will increase from $17 per hour to $17.50 per hour for all workers. The minimum wage for tipped employees increases from $8 to $10 per hour as well.
MARYLAND
Sale and resale of tickets: MD Senate Bill 539 would ban "speculative tickets" and would require all-inclusive ticket pricing from sellers, with an itemized list of charges, eliminating surprise fees.
Minimum wage: The minimum wage in Montgomery County goes up to $17.15 an hour. For small to mid-sized employers with a staff of 11-50, the rate will increase by 50 cents to $15.50 per hour.
Clean Indoor Air Act: The new law prohibits vaping in certain indoor areas and places of employment and certain mass transportation
New vehicle fees: The Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) will implement the new fees and increase registration rates, with prices that could increase by up to 60-70 percent. Fees will also increase for electric vehicle owners, who'll have to pay a $250 biannual surcharge to offset the growing number of cars not paying the state's gas tax.
Alcohol delivery: New legislation allows establishing a local delivery service permit, allowing the delivery of alcoholic beverages from businesses authorized to sell them.
VIRGINIA
Opioids: New law requires the Virginia Board of Education to establish guidelines related to school-connected overdoses and parental notification.
Local authority for speed limits: Counties that do not maintain their roads, are allowed to reduce speed limits to less than 25 miles per hour, but not less than 15 miles per hour, in business or residential districts. Localities will also be allowed to restore a speed limit that was previously reduced.
Access to polling places: New legislation clarifies that individuals with a disability (not just a physical disability) can vote curbside. The new law will also require training for poll workers on disability access.
Vehicle insurance: VA SB951 would require all Virginia drivers to have vehicle insurance and insurgence companies will notify the DMV if you do not have auto insurance, resulting in a $600 fine and a license suspension.
Emissions inspections: New law increases the amount an emissions inspection program coordinator can be paid every year for each station from $3,500 to $5,000, and increases the maximum amount that may be charged for the emissions inspection fee from $28 to $30.
Child marriages: New law establishes the legal age of marriage to be 18 years of age and eliminates the ability for a minor to be declared emancipated based on the intent to marry.
Legacy admissions: The law stops public universities from giving preferential treatment to students who apply with family ties to the school.
Firearms: New legislation bans “auto sears,” which are devices that can convert a semiautomatic firearm into a fully automatic weapon that is able to rapidly fire a full magazine of bullets and another law prohibits the removal or alteration of serial numbers on any firearm, except antique firearms.
Historic preservation: The law provides for a 30-day delay before a permit may be issued to raze or demolish any structure that is a historic landmark, building or structure.
Roadkill Law: If you hit a turkey, bear, dear or an elk while driving, you can claim it as if you had killed it for the game. Just make sure to call the conservation police and have them examine it first.
Declawing cats: The practice of declawing cats becomes against the law, except for a necessary therapeutic purpose.
Ida Domingo
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