By Heather Michon
Correspondent
The stroke of midnight on Jan. 1 ushered in not just a new year, but a series of new laws affecting workers, families, consumers, and children across Virginia.
Among the most significant changes are increases to the minimum wage and unemployment benefits, new consumer privacy rules, and additional protections for children and families.
Minimum wage and unemployment benefits
Virginia’s minimum wage increased by 36 cents to $12.77 per hour on Jan. 1.
The new rate places Virginia roughly in the middle among states. Minimum wages nationwide currently range from $17.50 per hour in Washington, D.C., to $5.15 per hour in Wyoming. Many states continue to use the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly have signaled interest in further increases, including proposals that would raise the state minimum wage to $13.75 in 2027 and $15 in 2028.
Virginia also increased its weekly unemployment benefit by $52, raising the base rate for payments to eligible residents who are temporarily out of work. Lawmakers said the adjustment is intended to better reflect current wage levels, marking the first increase to the benefit in a decade.
New phone opt-out protections
Virginians who are tired of receiving unwanted text solicitations now have stronger protections under the Virginia Telephone Privacy Protection Act.
The law allows consumers to opt out of future marketing texts by replying “STOP” or “UNSUBSCRIBE.” Once a recipient opts out, telephone solicitors must remove that number from their contact lists.
Under the law, companies must honor opt-out requests for 10 years, during which they may not send additional solicitation texts.
Protections for babies and young children
A new law aimed at reducing infants’ exposure to toxic heavy metals took effect Jan. 1 with the passage of the Baby Food Protection Act.
The law requires baby food manufactured in Virginia to contain lower levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic than the Food and Drug Administration’s minimum thresholds.
According to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manufacturers must conduct monthly testing of baby food products. Companies may also be required to make test results publicly available, including through QR codes or other scannable methods on product packaging.
Health screening protections
A new law taking effect Jan. 1 prohibits health insurers from charging patients additional out-of-pocket costs for certain cancer screenings.
Under the law, insurers may not impose extra charges for breast cancer screening exams, including mammograms, MRIs, and ultrasounds.
Prostate cancer screenings are also covered, including blood tests and rectal exams, protecting patients from additional charges for those services.
Lawmakers said the changes are intended to remove financial barriers to early detection and encourage routine preventive care.
Online protections for children under 16
An amendment to the Virginia Consumer Protection Act places new limits on how social media platforms interact with users under age 16, intending to strengthen privacy protections and reduce harmful online exposure.
Under the law, certain social media platforms must obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting or processing personal data from users under 16. The measure also restricts features designed to encourage prolonged screen time for minors.
Supporters say the changes address growing concerns about youth mental health and online safety, while critics have raised questions about enforcement and implementation.
