Get familiar with new Virginia laws that go into effect July 1, 2. RICHMOND, Va. Hundreds of new laws take effect in Virginia on Saturday, July 1, ranging from hunting attire to birth control. For example, the criminal procedure has changed regarding the suspension of a drivers license if they were charged with marijuana possession. Previously, the person lost their license for six months. Now they can keep it. Local governments now also have more authority to regulate shared economy home rental platforms, and home owners could face a penalty if they dont register if required to. Health insurance companies will be required to cover 1. New Activity Address Codes for Use in Identifying Awarding and Funding Offices. Welcome to the VA Office of Small And Disadvantaged Business Utilization OSDBU. Mission Statement It is the mission of Kootenai County government to provide professional service with regard to public safety, essential service. And hunters can add blaze pink to their fashion lineup this deer hunting season. Plus, beer delivery The General Assembly session concluded on Feb. New laws always start on July 1 in conjunction with the states new fiscal year. State DMV And Driver Licensing Information. Your state department of motor vehicles provides important information. Your state DMV may manage several programs. The years session may have been less eventful compared to previous years, due to the fact that all 1. House of Delegates seats and three statewide offices are up for election in November 2. There was a lot of bipartisan buckling down and passage of kitchen sink laws. Read about all approved 8. PHOTOGALLERY OF NEW LAWSAGRICULTURESenate Bill SB 1. Gives the Commissioner of  Agriculture and Consumer Services free access at reasonable hours to certain farms to inspect the farms and take samples. ALCOHOL BEVERAGE AND CONTROLStronger booze.  House Bill HB 1. The law increases from 1. But this stronger booze law expires July 1, 2. Drink and shop HB 1. SB 1. 39. 1.  New license created that allows for, and defines, commercial lifestyle centers, where people can carry drinks around with them. Its a strange name for the concept seen, say, in the French Quarter or downtown Charleston, S. C. According to the GA, a commercial lifestyle center is a mixed use commercial development that covers a minimum of 2. So, think Short Pump Town Center or Stony Point Fashion Park. A representative with Short Pump said the mall sits on 1. Bonus.  SB 1. 10. 8. You can drink on a walking culinary tour now, because its 2. Beer delivery.  HB 1. Read more about new Virginia ABC laws, here.  CIVIL LAW Defamation.  HB 1. SB 1. 41. 3. Immune to defamation regarding matters of public concern unless you did it knowing your statement was false. CRIMINAL LAW Battery.  HB 1. Expands the penalty for battery against a health care provider who is engaged in the performance of his duties to apply in hospitals or in emergency rooms on the premises of any clinic or other facility rendering emergency care. Peeping.  HB 2. 35. The law punishes as a Class 1 misdemeanor the use of an electronic device to enter the property of another to secretly or furtively peep or spy or attempt to peep or spy into a dwelling or occupied building located on such property, unless such use occurs pursuant to a lawful criminal investigation.  No auditory research experiments, okay. CRIMINAL PROCEDUREMarijuana possession. HB 2. 05. 1SB 1. Previously a person lost their drivers license for six months when convicted of simple possession of marijuana. Now drivers can keep their license but will have to perform 5. The exception applies only to adults juveniles will still be subject to license suspension. Read more, here.  Abuse. HB 2. 06. 4.  Assault and battery against a family or household member eligibility for first offender status. Sexual assault victims. HB 2. 12. 7. Rights of victims of sexual assault physical evidence recovery kits. Police are required to inform victims of their rights regarding physical evidence recovery kits. Read more here. DUI Consent. HB 2. 32. 7. DUI implied consent refusal of blood or breath tests. There are no penalities for refusing to submit to a blood test to determine alcohol or drug content of a defendants blood. But, the penalty has increased if you refuse to submit to a breath test if you have had a prior offense of refusal for a breath test, within 1. And, if law enforcement submits a search warrant to test blood of a suspect DUI driver, than the bill provides that search warrant will be given priority over other matters. Unpaid court fees. HB 2. 38. 6SB 8. The grace period for unpaid court fines, costs, forfeitures, penalties has been increased. And a defendant who is unable to pay court ordered fines, costs, forfeitures, and penalties can be given a deferred or installment payment agreement. DOMESTIC ANIMALSDangerous dogs. HB 2. 38. 1. Animal control officers now have more discretion to determine if the owner of a dog who bit or scratched another animal or human needs to appear in court. If a dog is deemed dangerous, the owner must obtain a dangerous dog registration certificate, priced at 1. Lifetime license. SB 8. 56. Cats and dogs lifetime licenses. Authorizes the governing body of a county or city to provide for a lifetime dog or cat license. The bill also removes the minimum annual tax for a dog or cat, sets the maximum tax for a lifetime license at 5. EDUCATIONFirearms.  HB 1. School security officers can carry a firearm in performance of duties, with exceptions. Bullying. HB 1. 70. School Board codes must require the principal to notify parents of any student involved in an alleged incident of bullying of the status of any investigation within five school days of the allegation of bullying. Traffic stops. HB 2. Driver education programs instruction concerning traffic stops. Students will learn traffic stop procedures in drivers ed. Bill requires the Board of Education to collaborate with the Department of State Police in implementing the changes to its driver education program. ELECTIONSVOTINGHB 1. You cant pay volunteers or employs based on the number of completed voter registrations they collect. HB 1. 91. 2. Persons granted a protective order can vote absentee. ENVIRONMENT         Poop overflow. HB 2. 38. 3SB 8. The owner of any combined sewer overflow that discharges into Chesapeake Bay Watershed will be identified by DEQ, who will determine what actions are needed to bring such an outfall into compliance with Virginia law, the federal Clean Water Act, and the Presumption Approach described in the CSO Control Policy of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency EPA. The bill requires any owner of such an outfall to initiate construction activities by July 1, 2. July 1, 2. 02. 5. Coal pollution. SB 1. Requires the owner or operator of a coal combustion residuals unit CCR unit to identify water pollution and address corrective measures to resolve it, evaluate the clean closure of the CCR unit by recycling the ash for use in cement or moving it to a landfill, and demonstrate the long term safety of the CCR unit. FIREARMSReveal to conceal. HB 2. 32. 5. Application for permit of a concealed handgun permit now requires photo identification. GENERAL LAWSAssistance animals. HB 2. 00. 6. Va. Fair Housing Law responsibilities with respect to use of an assistance animal in a dwelling. The bill establishes a process through which a person with a disability may submit a request for a reasonable accommodation to maintain an assistance animal in a dwelling, including any supporting documentation verifying the disability and disability related need for an accommodation. Victims. HB 2. 21. Victims of sexual violence and human trafficking are eligible to apply for the address confidentiality program. HEALTHHEALTH PROFESSIONSIn Utero exposure to drugs. HB 1. 46. 7. Neonatal abstinence syndrome now on a list of diseases required to be reported.