New Laws Effective In DC, Maryland and Virginia
Several new laws effective on July 1 2020, in D.C., Maryland and Virginia. These new implementations could impact your salary, the way you vote, your tuition, and more.
Keep reading and you will get what you need to know.
New laws effective in Washington, D.C.
Paid Family Leave for fathers and mothers
Every D.C. worker has been entitled to paid family leave after the new laws effective on July 1, 2020 in Washington D.C. This policy was passed and approved by the D.C. Council on December 2016. The new law endorses:
- 8 weeks to bond with a new child, adoption or foster care placement of a child
-
6 weeks to care for a family member with a serious health condition
- 2 weeks to care for your own serious health condition
Minimum Wage
The minimum wage in the District of Columbia has increased from $14.00 per hour to $15.00 per hour, as a result of the new laws effective in the DMV area. This applies for all workers, “regardless of the size of the employer”.
In addition, according to the Department of Employment Services, those workers that receive tips, are experiencing an increase of $0.55 per hour, going from $4.45 per hour to $5 per hour.
New laws effective in Virginia
Gun Control and Prevention
Virginia’s governor Ralph Northam has signed important documents regarding gun violence prevention measures. The law includes the Extreme Risk Protective Order which requires:
- Gun owners to report missing and/or stolen firearms to police within the first 48 hours
- Preventing children from getting access to firearms
- One-handgun-a-month
- Regulate firearms in public buildings, recreation centers and parks
- and more…
Voting policies
The November 2020 elections are right around the corner, and as for the new laws effective, Virginians will have the election day as a state holiday. Remember that in order to vote in Virginia, one must be a United States citizen, a resident of Virginia, and at least 18 years of age.
“The Department of Elections is authorized to establish and maintain a statewide automated voter registration system to include procedures for ascertaining current addresses of registrants; to require cancellation of records for registrants no longer qualified; to provide electronic application for voter registration and absentee ballots; and to provide electronic delivery of absentee ballots to eligible military and overseas voters”, says he Commonwealth of Virginia.
Marijuana Possession
The use and carry of marijuana have been both decriminalized in Virginia after the new laws effective back on July 1, 2020. The limit for possessing is 1 ounce, but will be punishable with a $25 fine. Nonetheless, people that get caught holding marijuana will not be arrested nor get a warning in the criminal record whatsoever.
The states that have decriminalized marijuana are:
- Alaska
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Virginia
New laws effective in Maryland
Montgomery County’s Minimum Wage
After the approval of the new laws effective, minimum wage workers in Montgomery County have started to get a raise of $1 per hour. This has been a result of the legislation passed on November 17, 2017 for “Bill 28-17” which is meant to increase the minimum wage each first of July, until it reaches %15 per hour in 2022.
| Effective date | Large employer | Mid-sized employer | Small employer |
| July 1, 2020 | $14 | $13.25 | $13 |
| July 1, 2021 | $15 | $14 | $13.50 |
| July 1, 2022 | $15+ CPI-W | $14.50 | $14 |
CHART: MONTGOMERY COUNTY GOVERNMENT
Tuition for National Guard Soldiers
According the the new laws effective back in July 1, 2020, the state of Maryland will compensate up to 100% of National Guard members’ tuition. The only requirement so far is that they need to be on active duty. Federal Tuition Assistance (FTA) is financial assistance provided for voluntary off-duty education programs in support of a Soldier’s professional and personal self-development goals.
Learn More
Every change or amend in any aspect of the law might positively and/or negatively impact your daily life. Laws are a set of rules that are meant to protect our general safety within the society. As a citizen, your rights should be your number one priority, and in order to ensure your rights’ safety, laws will prevent the abuse or misuse of your rights by organizations, by the local, state and/or federal government itself; and by simply other people.
If you want to learn more about the new laws effective on July 1, 2020 in DC, Virginia and Maryland, click here. In case you are looking for Clinton personal injury attorney.