Many new laws passed by the General Assembly during the 2025 legislative session will come into effect in Virginia on July 1, 2025. These laws cover a range of topics, including road safety, education policies, and consumer rights.
A significant change is the requirement for all adult passengers in a vehicle to wear seat belts while on public highways. Previously, only front-seat passengers were required to wear them. This law is detailed in HB 2475.
In terms of pedestrian safety, drivers must now stop for pedestrians crossing a highway. Failure to do so can result in a traffic infraction or a Class 1 misdemeanor if it leads to serious injury or death of a vulnerable road user. This is outlined in SB 1416.
The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has new obligations under HB 2116 and HB 2501. They must include non-apparent disabilities on driver’s licenses upon request and promote communication tools for officers interacting with drivers with autism.
School boards are mandated to implement policies regarding cell phone use on school property as per HB 1961/SB 738. These policies should limit disruptions but cannot lead to suspension or expulsion for violations.
Another educational policy requires schools to inform parents within 24 hours about confirmed or suspected student overdoses connected to the school environment. This is covered by HB 2774/SB 1240.
For social media protections, SB 854 mandates age verification for accounts and restricts usage for those under 16 unless overridden by parental consent. Additionally, minors involved in content creation must be compensated according to HB 2401/SB 998.
Consumer protection is enhanced through HB 2515/SB 1212, which demands that suppliers clearly display total prices inclusive of all fees and surcharges during transactions.
Finally, child support obligations have been updated based on gross monthly income from $35,000 to $42,500 as per SB 805.
