New laws in Virginia, Maryland and D.C. go into effect on July 1, legislating on artificial intelligence, data centers, health care and more. <\/p>\n
Dozens of new laws will take effect in Virginia, Maryland and D.C. on Tuesday, July 1.<\/p>\n
The legislation deals with education, data centers, health care and other topics that impact D.C.-area residents daily.<\/p>\n
Many of the incoming laws take on rapidly developing technology, such as artificial intelligence. Legislators have also attempted to tackle how technology impacts kids with new rules on phones in schools and compensating child influencers.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a look at some of the legislation taking effect on July 1:<\/p>\n
Virginia<\/p>\n
Child influencers<\/a>: Parents or guardians who are making money off content online that involves kids will have to set earnings aside for those children in a trust account. Those child influencers will get access to the money when they turn 18.<\/p>\n Vaping ban for those under 21<\/a>: People under the age of 21 can\u2019t have products intended for smoking tobacco or hemp.<\/p>\n Cocktails-to-go<\/a>: The law makes a previous policy permanent that allows restaurants and other licensed businesses to deliver wine, beer and cocktails to-go through third-party deliver providers.<\/p>\n School cellphones bans<\/a>: Already, Virginia school systems have been enforcing the bell-to-bell cellphone restrictions after Gov. Glenn Youngkin\u2019s executive order last summer<\/a>. But after July 1, schools boards will officially need to create policies that limit students\u2019 cellphone use. There will be exceptions made for kids who have disabilities or language barriers that would benefit from having access to their cellphones during the school day.<\/p>\n Nazi graffiti<\/a>: Vandalizing property with a Nazi symbol, such as a Nazi swastika, with the intention to intimidate, will be a Class 6 felony. The law can apply to private property as well as highways or public places.<\/p>\n Pregnancy<\/a>: Up to 10 visits with a doula will be covered by Medicaid under one law. Another requires hospitals to allow doulas and companions<\/a> during childbirth when the person\u2019s partner isn\u2019t present.<\/p>\n Breast cancer screenings<\/a>: Puts the cost of certain exams to screen for breast cancer on the insurance company, not the patient.<\/p>\n Maryland<\/p>\n Tech tax<\/a>: Applies a 3% sales tax on lots of technology services like cloud storage, data processing and cryptocurrency mining. WTOP\u2019s partners at Maryland Matters report<\/a> it\u2019s expected to raise $500 million as part of\u00a0$1.6 billion in new taxes and fees\u00a0approved for fiscal 2026.<\/p>\n Tenant bill of rights<\/a>: Landlords will have to attach a \u201cbill of rights\u201d to every residential lease that sums up what tenants should know about their legal protections.<\/p>\n Data center regulation<\/a>: Calls for the state to analyze the potential environmental and economic impacts of building data centers in Maryland. That analysis is due on Sept. 1, 2026, and it\u2019s set to be carried out by a team of experts in energy, the environment and business.<\/p>\n AI revenge porn<\/a>: Specifies that a \u201cvisual representation\u201d of a person made with AI could be considered revenge porn. Those victimized by those images can file a civil suit.<\/p>\n Bitcoin ATMs<\/a>: Puts a system in place to register virtual currency kiosks \u2014 which are also referred to as Bitcoin ATMs \u2014 to buy or sell cryptocurrency.<\/p>\n Reparations for enslaved people\u2019s ancestors<\/a>: Ancestors of enslaved people or others impacted by government policies around historic inequalities could get benefits from the state. A commission established by the new law will make recommendations to Gov. Wes Moore and the general assembly by Nov. 1, 2027. Those benefits could vary from apologies to tax rebates, cash and more.<\/p>\n DC<\/p>\n