New Year’s Day will bring a number of new laws and regulations into effect across Virginia.
While legislation passed by the General Assembly and signed by the governor typically has an effective date of the start of the state government’s fiscal year on July 1, some measures are delayed until Jan. 1 each year.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) will see a number of new measures taking effect, from an uptick in the state minimum wage to a streamlining of primary elections.
Higher minimum wage comes into effect
Virginia’s minimum wage will rise from $12 to $12.41 to account for inflation over the past year.
Higher insurance requirements set for drivers
Those licensed to drive in Virginia must now carry higher levels of insurance.
A change in state law adopted in 2021 doubled the minimum insurance coverage for vehicle crashes. Starting on Jan. 1, 2025, insurers must cover $60,000 in cases involving the injury or death of one person, up from $30,000, and $100,000 for injury or death involving two or more people, up from $50,000.
The minimum for property damage has increased from $20,000 to $25,000.
The new requirements affect both new and renewing policies issued in the Commonwealth.
Larger compensation payments approved for public safety personnel deaths
During its 2024 session, the General Assembly approved an increase in the payments given to beneficiaries of law enforcement and fire personnel whose deaths can be connected to on-the-job issues.
The measure increases the death benefit that employers must give to current and retired firefighters and police officers from $25,000 to $75,000. The increase applies to work-connected deaths that occur on Jan. 1, 2025 or later and are related to heart disease, respiratory disease and certain kinds of cancer.
Legislation increasing current amounts passed both houses unanimously but had to go to a conference committee to iron out details before Youngkin signed the compromise measure on
The bill didn’t change payments of $100,000 to heirs of those employed as first responders who died “in the line of duty as the direct or proximate result of the performance of [their] duties.”
Insurance coverage expanded for colorectal cancer screenings
Legislation that passed the General Assembly unanimously will require health insurers to provide coverage for examinations and lab tests related to colorectal cancer, including follow-up colonoscopies after a positive, noninvasive screening test.
Signed by Youngkin in March, the legislation prohibits such coverage from being subject to any deductible, coinsurance or other cost-sharing requirements. It applies to all new and renewing health-insurance coverage.
Higher threshold for historic rehabilitation tax credits
Individuals and groups will now be able to claim $7.5 million in state tax credits annually for historic rehabilitation efforts after state lawmakers passed and Youngkin signed a bill increasing the limit from $5 million.
Advocates had sought a $10 million ceiling, but legislators ultimately settled on $7.5 million. The higher limit goes into effect for the 2025 tax year.
‘Virginia Memory Project’ established
A new state law has created the Virginia Memory Project, which will be part of the Virginia Center on Aging at Virginia Commonwealth University.
The new initiative will collect and analyze data on Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias and other neurodegenerative disorders. It will also be charged with helping develop public policy and providing assistance to those with dementia and neurodegenerative disorders, their families and medical providers.
The legislation stipulates that the project won’t publish any information identifying patients by name.
Public database on utility work near roads coming
The Virginia Department of Transortation (VDOT) has been directed to maintain a publicly accessible database to map all utility work approved for its roads in residential neighborhoods.
The database will include the location of the work, the start and projected end dates, the company undertaking the work, the type of work being conducted and other relevant information.
The information will be available in the database at least 30 days prior to the start date of any such utility work, though that reporting requirement doesn’t apply to emergency work.
Court-appointed counsel to receive higher pay
A legislative amendment adopted in the 2024 session increases the minimum amounts of money that court-appointed attorneys can get for serving indigent defendants facing felony and misdemeanor charges.
The new rate schedule takes effect Jan. 1.
Current state law sets a minimum $120 payment for representation in minor offenses, a rate that will increase to $180 in 2025. Rates are higher as the seriousness of charges increases.
While both the Senate and House of Delegates agreed on versions of the legislation, it required a conference committee to hammer out disagreements before the measure was sent to Youngkin for his signature.
No more one-candidate primary elections
The General Assembly adopted a bill that will allow for the cancellation of primary elections when only one candidate is left on the ballot after others drop out.
Starting in 2025, the remaining candidate will automatically be declared the party’s nominee. However, the change will not apply to presidential primaries.