RICHMOND, Va. — Dozens of new laws are now in effect in Virginia and Maryland as we start the new month. July 1 brings big changes to both parts of the DMV. Here are some highlights:
Virginia
Virginians will begin July with fewer coronavirus restrictions and new laws to learn.
In 2020, Democrats had control of the House of Delegates, Senate, and the governor’s mansion for the first time in decades of Virginia history, and the new Democratic majority wasted little time getting a sweeping array of legislative priorities passed.
Many of the laws reflect the new Democratic majority in the House and Senate for the first time in several years.
Several bills signed into law by Gov. Ralph Northam, officially go into effect this Wednesday, July 1 – the same day Virginia enters Phase 3 of reopening.
Here’s a breakdown of a few of the bills that will become law as of July 1:
GUN CONTROL
The General Assembly passed and Northam approved a set of gun control bills this year, including ones to enact an Extreme Risk Protective Order, require background checks on all gun sales, mandating reporting of lost and stolen firearms, increasing the penalty for leaving firearms within the access of children, and reinstating Virginia’s one-handgun-a-month policy.
As of July 1, gun safes with a selling price of $1,500 or less per item are exempt from the retail sales and use tax.
Here’s a list of bills signed by the governor in April:
- Senate Bill 70 and House Bill 2 require background checks on all firearm sales in Virginia, which will prevent guns from ending up in dangerous hands.
- Senate Bill 240 and House Bill 674 establish an Extreme Risk Protective Order, which creates a legal mechanism for law enforcement to temporarily separate a person from their firearms when they represent a danger to themselves or others. Virginia is now among 19 other states and the District of Columbia in enacting this type of law.
- Senate Bill 69 and House Bill 812 reinstate Virginia’s one-handgun-a-month rule to help curtail stockpiling of firearms and trafficking.
- House Bill 9 requires gun owners to report their lost or stolen firearms to law enforcement within 48 hours or face a civil penalty.
- House Bill 1083 prevents children from accessing firearms by increasing the penalty for recklessly leaving firearms in their presence.
Two other bills, one that allows localities to regulate firearms in their public spaces and another that prevents anyone under protective orders from possessing a gun, were passed after amendments were proposed by Northam.
One gun safety measure backed by Northam that did not pass was one that would have banned assault-style weapons.
EDUCATION
In-state tuition will be offered to undocumented students with the passage of Del. Alfonso Lopez’s Dream Act.
School principals will no longer be required to report to police students who commit misdemeanors on school property.
Students can also no longer be charged for disorderly conduct if it occurred on school property.
CONFEDERATE STATUES
As of July 1, localities will have the ability to decide the fate of Confederate statues in their jurisdictions.
Previous Virginia law made it illegal to remove war monuments. Under the new law, localities can remove, relocate or contextualize monuments on public property.
MARIJUANA DECRIMINALIZATION
Under the current law, a person could receive a fine of up to $500 and 30 days in jail for getting caught with a small amount of marijuana. Under the new law, anyone caught with no more than an ounce of marijuana would only have to pay a $25 fine.
Another important part of the bill is the reason some call it the "Ban the Box" law.
When it goes into effect on July 1, employers, schools, state and local governments will no longer be able to ask a potential employee to disclose any simple marijuana possession charges from the past.
Simply put, that box would be banned from a job application.
Adding to that, simple possession will no longer be reflected in someone’s criminal record either.
MEDICAL CANNABIS
Also signed into law this year was Senate Bill 1015, stating that no person may be arrested, prosecuted, or denied any right or privilege for participating in the state’s medical cannabis program.
That program is expected to be operational and dispensing cannabis products to authorized patients by mid-year.
Northam also approved Senate Bill 976 expanding the medical cannabis program.
TRANSPORTATION
The statewide gas tax is going up by five cents, but vehicle registration fees are going down by $10.
NO MORE PHOTO ID REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING
Virginians will no longer need to show a photo ID in order to vote by this November; meaning that voting requirements in Virginia will revert to a similar standard as in the years before the photo ID law was signed.
Voters will be able to show voter registration documents, bank statements, paychecks, or any government document that shows the name and address of the voter.
Voters who do not show valid identification when signing in to vote would be required to sign a sworn affidavit stating that they are who they claim to be. The signed statement subjects the person to Class 5 felony penalties if the statement is false.
A voter who doesn't show a photo ID or sign the statement can be given a provisional ballot.
Maryland
New laws are also taking effect in Maryland. Several bills signed into law include everything from changes to the way police store body camera footage to minimum wage hikes in Montgomery County. Here's a breakdown:
POLICE BODY CAMERAS
Lawmakers created a Law Enforcement Body Camera Task Force, which must issue a report by Dec. 1 on the best ways for storing audio and video recordings from police body cameras.
POLICE AUDITS
Current Maryland law requires the state’s Office of Legislative Audits to perform an audit on the “effectiveness and efficiency of the financial management practices” of the department in 2020 and then at least once every six years after that. The law sponsored by Baltimore Sen. Cory McCray clarifies that multiple audits can be performed. It also specifies that the employees or authorized representatives of OLA must have access to and may inspect the records, including those that are confidential by law.
SPECIAL EDUCATION OMBUDSMAN
A new law will create an ombudsman in the Office of the Attorney General for parents who are frustrated with the quality of special education services for their children. The ombudsman’s charge is to “serve as a resource to provide information and support to parents, students and educators regarding special education rights and services.”
FLOOD CONTROL
After two deadly floods in Old Ellicott City and repeated nuisance flooding in downtown Annapolis, two new laws will help pay for flood prevention. One law makes it easier to use money for the Bay Restoration Fund — better known as the “flush fee” — on projects that will help combat flooding and other climate problems. Another law allows city and county governments to create resilience authorities, which could be used to borrow money and manage projects that would improve infrastructure.
TUITION-NATIONAL GUARD
Members of the Maryland National Guard currently can be reimbursed up to 50% of the cost of college tuition. A law requested by Republican Gov. Larry Hogan allows for 100% percent reimbursement for college classes. The Maryland National Guard’s policy requires members to pay for the tuition upfront, then apply for reimbursement after they pass the course. The Guard reimburses tuition based on how much money is in the state budget for the program, prioritizing lower-ranked soldiers and airmen working on their first degree. Trade school courses also can be reimbursed.