By Marie Clementi | The Woodbridge Gazette
Updated June 27, 2026
Photo: Unsplash
A sweeping set of new Virginia laws takes effect July 1, 2026, touching nearly every corner of daily life — from your paycheck and your lease to criminal records and gun regulations. Most of the measures were passed during the 2026 General Assembly session and follow Virginia’s standard practice of activating new legislation on the first day of July.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s changing and what it means for residents in Woodbridge, Manassas, Occoquan, and across Prince William County.
Jobs and the Workplace
Several new laws shift the balance of power toward workers.
Under a new pay transparency law (HB 636), employers must post a good-faith salary or wage range in job listings and are prohibited from asking applicants about their past pay. Virginia’s minimum wage currently stands at $12.77 per hour as of January 1, 2026, and adjusts annually based on the Consumer Price Index as calculated by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry.
The Virginia Human Rights Act is also being expanded. The definition of “employer” under state anti-discrimination law is being broadened by lowering the employee threshold from 15 workers to just 5, meaning more small businesses will now be subject to those protections.
Noncompete agreements are being curtailed as well. Companies can no longer enforce a noncompete against an employee they fired without cause unless that worker received severance pay or other disclosed compensation upfront — but only for agreements signed after July 1 (SB 170). Healthcare workers get even stronger protection: doctors, nurses, counselors, social workers, and other licensed professionals are now fully exempt from noncompete agreements altogether (HB 627).
Wage garnishment rules are also changing. Under HB 601, banks and financial institutions — not the individual being garnished — are now required to automatically protect a minimum amount of funds and certain government benefit payments from being seized.
Renters and Landlords
Tenants get more breathing room under two new laws. The notice period a landlord must give before filing to evict a tenant for nonpayment grows from 5 days to 14 (HB 15). Landlords covered under the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act must also accept checks and money orders for rent and security deposits and cannot charge processing fees above their actual cost (HB 1005).
Criminal Records
One of the most significant changes taking effect July 1 involves how Virginia handles old convictions — but the timeline has two distinct phases residents should understand.
Starting July 1, people with certain convictions can begin petitioning a circuit court to have their records sealed from public view. Then, starting October 1, some convictions will be sealed automatically without requiring a petition.
Convictions eligible for sealing include misdemeanors such as petit larceny, shoplifting, trespassing, disorderly conduct, marijuana possession, and marijuana distribution. Lower-level Class 5 and Class 6 felony convictions may also be eligible through the petition process. Violent crimes, sex offenses, firearm offenses, and other serious categories are not eligible.
To petition for sealing, specific requirements must be met:
• The offense date must be on or after January 1, 1986
• No prior convictions for a Class 1 or Class 2 felony, or any felony punishable by life in prison
• No Class 3 or Class 4 felony conviction in the past 20 years
• No felony conviction of any kind in the past 10 years
• A clean record for 7 years after a misdemeanor conviction, or 10 years after a felony conviction
• All restitution must be paid
• If the offense involved substance abuse, the petitioner must demonstrate rehabilitation
All traffic infractions, including criminal traffic offenses, will be sealed automatically 11 years after the offense.
Experts advise patience — the process can take time, and a local commonwealth’s attorney has 30 days to respond to each petition and may request a court hearing. Legal counsel is strongly recommended given the complexity of the law.
Residents seeking help navigating the petition process can contact Clean Slate Virginia at cleanslatevirginia.org.
Note: Knowing which convictions qualify for automatic sealing versus those requiring a petition is important — filing an unnecessary petition could affect your eligibility for other petitions.
Public Safety — Assault Weapons Ban Update
Editor's note, July 1, 2026: A Lancaster County judge issued a preliminary injunction on June 25, blocking Virginia State Police from enforcing the assault weapons ban (SB 749) before its July 1 effective date. The injunction runs through December 31, 2026, or until a final ruling is reached. Attorney General Jay Jones confirmed the Commonwealth will appeal, calling the ruling "disappointing" and pledging to urgently seek a stay. Governor Spanberger reaffirmed her support for the law. The legal challenge was brought by the NRA in the case Crump v. Katz.
Virginia becomes the first Southern state to ban the manufacture, sale, and transfer of certain semi-automatic firearms and large-capacity magazines under SB 749, signed into law by Governor Abigail Spanberger in May. The law defines "assault firearms" to include popular semi-automatic rifles, shotguns, and pistols — including the AR-15 — and also bans magazines holding more than 15 rounds. Manually operated firearms (bolt, pump, lever, or slide action), antique guns, and permanently disabled weapons are excluded. Virginians who legally owned affected firearms before July 1 are permitted to keep them — the law only applies to new sales going forward. Violations are Class 1 misdemeanors. The NRA filed two lawsuits immediately after Spanberger signed the bill — one in state court and one in federal court — arguing the ban violates the Second Amendment. The federal suit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Some local prosecutors and sheriffs have also said they do not intend to enforce the law.
On traffic safety, local governments are now authorized to use AI-powered cameras to catch drivers who run stop signs or fail to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks, with a particular focus on school zones (SB 84). Repeat reckless drivers — including anyone caught exceeding 100 mph — may be required to have a speed-limiting device installed in their vehicle under a new Intelligent Speed Assistance Program.
Cyberstalking law has also been updated (SB 673). State code now explicitly defines cyberstalking and online harassment, including conduct carried out through email and social media. A first offense is a Class 1 misdemeanor; a second offense within five years escalates to a Class 6 felony.
Food and Dining
The long-standing rule requiring restaurants to earn at least 45% of their revenue from food sales is being relaxed (HB 975). Businesses averaging more than $48,000 in monthly sales are fully exempt; smaller restaurants see the ratio drop to 30%.
A polystyrene ban first passed in 2021 now fully goes into effect: food vendors — including Virginia schools — may no longer use expanded polystyrene (EPS) containers.
Have questions about how these laws may affect you? Contact a licensed Virginia attorney for guidance specific to your situation. For more local news, subscribe to The Woodbridge Gazette at woodbridgegazette.com.
Sources for the July 1, 2026 update include reporting by CBS 6 Richmond (WTVR), the Roanoke Star, and the Washington Examiner.
Editor's notes: This article was updated June 27, 2026, to reflect additional details on the criminal record sealing timeline, including the October 1 automatic sealing date and petition eligibility requirements. It was further updated July 1, 2026, to reflect a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the assault weapons ban (SB 749).
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