Virginia Introduces New Laws Effective July 1

By: Victor Greene

Virginia – Dozens of new laws officially went into effect on July 1, 2025, touching everything from traffic safety to school policy and consumer protections. Here are some of the highlights:

• Seatbelts Required for All: Adults in the back seat must now buckle up, or drivers face fines.
• Unlicensed Teen Drivers: Letting a minor without a license drive your car is now a misdemeanor.
• Pedestrian Safety: Harsher penalties for drivers who hit or endanger pedestrians.
• School Cell Phone Ban: Students are banned from using phones during instructional time.
• Cyberbullying Rules: Schools must now address off-campus cyberbullying and notify parents within 24 hours of a student overdose.
• Child Influencer Protection: Minors earning money online must have earnings put into a trust.
• Styrofoam Ban Begins: Large restaurants can no longer use polystyrene containers.
• Clear Pricing Required: Businesses must show the full price, including all fees, upfront.
• Vape Ban for Under 21: Possession is now illegal for anyone under 21.
• Doula Visits Covered: Medicaid now pays for up to 10 doula visits per pregnancy.
• Nazi Symbol Use Criminalized: Using Nazi symbols to intimidate is now a felony.
• Mail Theft is a Felony: Now prosecuted at the state level.
• Fentanyl Distribution Penalty: Can lead to involuntary manslaughter if it causes death.
• Overtime Pay Law: Time-and-a-half now required for work over 40 hours/week.
• Employer Liability Expanded: Employers can be sued for assaults committed by their workers on the job.

These laws aim to make Virginia safer, more transparent, and better prepared to handle modern challenges.