New Virginia laws in effect as of July 1, 2025 | #childpredator | #kidsaftey | #childsaftey

RICHMOND, Va. (WDBJ) – The Virginia General Assembly has passed several new laws, which will go into effect July 1, 2025.

Cyberbullying Law

• This law requires school boards to expand on its policies and procedures relating to the prevention and prohibition of bullying to address internet bullying that takes place off of school grounds between students enrolled in the school system.
• Public schools will be required to include cyberbullying procedures in their guidelines and codes of conduct.

Overtime Pay Law

• Overtime under the FSLA obligates employers to pay time and a half for hours worked physically over 40 hours in a single workweek.
• The new law remains the same for hourly employees but changes the formula for nonexempt salary employees.

Pedestrian Law

• Virginia’s new pedestrian law will add a new penalty to protect individuals crossing roadways.
• If a pedestrian accident results in serious bodily injury or death, the penalty will upgrade from a traffic infraction to a Class 1 misdemeanor.

ABC-Related Laws

Here is a look at the five new laws from an ABC news release:

• Cocktails-To-Go Made Permanent: HB 2058 and SB 811 removed the pending sunset for the delivery of wine, beer and cocktails-to-go by licensed third-party delivery providers. These bills, in conjunction with prior legislation, continue the same public safety protections, including those related to packaging and labeling, that have been in place. 
• Serving Canned Cocktails: SB 868 will allow mixed beverage licensees to serve the entire contents of a canned cocktail to a single patron if the container is 16 ounces or less and the cocktail’s alcohol by volume content is no greater than 15 percent. 
• Human Trafficking Training: HB 2033 requires Virginia ABC to include a human trafficking training module, created by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, in the Authority’s Responsible Sellers & Servers: Virginia’s Program (RSVP) training program. 
• Underage Tobacco and Hemp Sales: HB 1946 and SB 1060 created a working group to address enforcement of underage sales of tobacco, liquid nicotine and hemp products. Virginia ABC’s Bureau of Law Enforcement, which conducts an underage buyer program focused on alcohol and tobacco retailers, will contribute to this working group. 
• Tied House Exceptions: HB 1703 and SB 834 clarified the existing statutory exception to allow a manufacturer, bottler or wholesaler to obtain a retail license if the manufacturer, bottler or wholesaler does not sell or otherwise furnish, directly or indirectly, alcoholic beverages or other merchandise to the retail licensee.

Seatbelt Law

• This law requires everyone riding in the front and back seats to wear seatbelts.

Styrofoam Ban

• Styrofoam plates, cups, bowls, trays, and containers will be banned in Virginia.

Cell Phone Laws

• The bell-to-bell cell phone restriction will officially become law.
• This legislation is followed by a social media limit for minors, requiring social media companies to restrict users under the age of 16 to one hour per day.

Click here for a full list of the new laws.