Now that the calendar has turned to 2022, several new laws have officially gone into effect in Virginia. Since several of these new laws could affect you and your rights, here is a brief summary.
Car insurance
SB 1182: Auto liability insurance policies will now provide more coverage in case of an accident involving bodily injury or death. For accidents where one person is injured or dies the coverage amount is increasing from $25,000 to $30,000. For accidents involving two or more injuries or fatalities the coverage is increasing from $50,000 to $60,000. Then, in 2025, the coverage will increase again to $50,000 for a single victim and a maximum of $100,000 for two or more victims. This is reportedly the first increase of bodily injury coverage in Virginia since 1975.
Criminal history
HB 1930: This law prohibits most universities and colleges in the commonwealth from asking applicants about their criminal record or denying admission based on that record. However, once a college accepts a student, it can then ask the person if they have a criminal history and rescind acceptance if that history “poses a threat to the institution’s community.”
Alcohol sales
HB 1428: Starting in 2022, Virginia’s ABC stores will no longer sell “low alcohol beverage coolers,” defined as coolers with an alcohol content of 7.5 percent or less unless made by an ABC licensed distiller. The idea seems to be to encourage buyers to purchase low-alcohol coolers made in Virginia or buy higher-alcohol beverages.
Election Laws
SB 1157, SB 1148 and HB 2198: Several new election laws went into effect this year, including a law that moves city council and school board elections from May to November and a law that moves the primary election date from the second Tuesday in June to the third Tuesday in June.
Cruelty to animals
HB 2250: Known as the Animal Cosmetics Act, this law prohibits animal testing of cosmetics. Starting in July, knowingly selling cosmetics tested on animals after Jan.1, 2022, will be illegal.
Prescription drugs
HB 2007: In an attempt to make the pricing of prescription drugs more transparent, this new law requires prescription drug providers (such as insurance companies and drug manufacturers) to provide prescription drug pricing to the Virginia Department of Health. The VDH, in turn, will make this information available on its website.
These laws could impact you if you have a criminal record, get into a severe car accident or own a store that sells cosmetics. It can be challenging keeping up with all the new laws and regulations. If you have a question about the legal aspects of one of these laws, it never hurts to contact an attorney for advice.
