Here are some of the new Virginia laws taking effect July 1

Kate Seltzer, The Virginian-Pilot on Jun 30, 2026

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The General Assembly passed, and Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed, about 1,000 bills into law this year.

Many take effect July 1. Here are some that might affect your daily life.

Consumer protection

SB183 makes it so restaurants must mark food prepared for takeout or delivery that has been altered due to a food allergy.

HB312/SB767 strengthens consumer protections for people going to auto glass repair shops. The legislation requires those shops to notify customers whether the car has an advanced driver assistance system, and if so, whether calibration or recalibration of the system is needed after a windshield repair or replacement. If the glass repair shop can’t do that calibration, the employees must tell customers to go to a certified dealership or qualified specialist.

So-called “Click to Cancel” legislation will make it easier for consumers to cancel memberships or subscriptions. It requires the mechanism to cancel a subscription must be at least as easy to use as the mechanism the consumer used to sign up for service.

Firearms

Gun owners should be aware that the sale of some firearms classified as assault weapons will be prohibited effective July 1. That law faces legal challenges, and its fate remains unclear. A ban on carrying certain types of assault firearms in public places is on hold until next year to give the legislature time to ensure the definition of an assault weapon is consistent across the laws.

But other legislation is more certain.

HB19/SB160 expands the definition of who is prohibited from owning a firearm after a domestic violence conviction to include an intimate partner — someone who was in a romantic, dating or sexual relationship within the last 12 months — and family or household member to mean anyone who lived with the person in the previous 12 months.

HB110 /SB486 creates a Class 4 misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $250, for failing to securely store handguns in unattended cars. That means guns in cars must be placed in a locked glove compartment or center console, or in another locked container.

And HB229/SB173 prohibit bringing guns and other weapons into hospitals that provide mental health or developmental services.

Gaming

Bills that would have legalized skill games and internet gaming were vetoed or left in committee. But one new law imposes a tax on fantasy sports betting, which would require companies like DraftKings to pay a 10% tax on their revenue. That could mean increased fees for app users.

Criminal justice

Some new legislation is designed to benefit incarcerated people and their loved ones.

HB173/SB276 requires the Department of Corrections to provide extended or additional visiting hours for long-distance visitors. Visitations must last at least two hours, unless the incarcerated person or the visitor decides to end the visit early or there’s an active security event. And an incarcerated person can only lose visitation privileges as a result of dangerous behavior during the visit.

HB553 requires the department to take reasonable steps to provide translation services to incarcerated people.

Another law, HB273, says that law enforcement officers, while on the clock, have a duty to provide emergency first-aid to anyone suffering from a serious bodily injury or life-threatening condition and directs the Department of Corrections to provide basic medical training to officers. The law says police officers cannot be sued for personal injury or wrongful death resulting from that aid — or from withholding it — except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct.

Housing

The legislature passed some renter protections this session, including making it so renters have 14 days to pay rent after it’s due before a landlord can begin eviction proceedings. Previously, the the waiting period was five days.

Other

Another new law will change the standard for divorce in the commonwealth.

HB303 makes it so people can file for no-fault divorce immediately after they separate. Previously, they had to be legally separated for a year before divorcing, except in at-fault cases with circumstances like cruelty, fear of bodily harm, adultery and abandonment.

Also, all food vendors in Virginia must stop using Styrofoam containers as of July 1. Previously, the law only applied to large chains with 20 or more locations in the state. That’s according to a 2021 law that phased out their use.

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