On July 1, many of the bills recently approved by the General Assembly and signed into law by the governor will officially go into effect in Virginia. The 2021 General Assembly session saw bills covering a wide range of topics, including education, voting rights, criminal justice, and more. Here’s a look at some of the most noteworthy laws that will go into effect come 12:01 a.m. Thursday. 

The recreational use and possession of marijuana will be legal in Virginia starting July 1. Perhaps one of the most newsworthy laws going into effect this year, the law positions Virginia as the first state in the South to legalize the drug. Virginians who are 21 years of age or older will be able to possess up to one ounce of marijuana for personal consumption, though it’s still illegal to sell or purchase plants or seeds. Retail sales won’t be legal in the state until 2024. And while it will remain illegal to consume marijuana in public, the law permits Virginians to grow up to four plants in their homes. 

In the interest of promoting social equity, Virginia is using the legalization of marijuana to advance certain criminal justice reforms. Beginning July 1, all records of arrests, charges, and convictions related to misdemeanor possession with the intent to distribute will be sealed from public view in Virginia State Police systems. 

The General Assembly also took action during the 2021 session to expand protections for voting rights. The laws are so comprehensive that the New York Times called Virginia a “voting rights bastion.” Starting July 1, voting absentee in Virginia will be easier than ever before; localities are now required to offer drop-off boxes for absentee ballots, and voting precincts will be able to open on Sundays for early in-person voting. And as Virginia emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, when being physically close to others came with health risks, absentee ballots no longer require a witness signature during public health emergencies.

Additionally, Virginia teachers will finally see a pay raise for the fiscal year starting July 1, thanks to a budget amendment approved by the General Assembly this year. The five percent pay raise will still not bring teacher pay in Virginia up to the national average; still, advocates say that the raise is a step in the right direction. 

Another law going into effect July 1 pertaining to education prohibits local school boards from filing lawsuits against the parents of students who have debt from school meal costs. This law will help keep the focus in schools on education, rather than potentially causing students to worry about how they’ll be able to afford to eat during school lunches. 

Starting July 1, certain essential workers will be guaranteed paid sick leave in Virginia. Home health care workers who work an average of at least 20 hours per week or 90 hours per month will earn at least one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. The paid sick leave benefit can be used for personal medical issues, or to care for a family member in need of medical care.



Finally, executions in Virginia will no longer be permitted starting July 1. This law has been particularly newsworthy considering that Virginia has executed more people in its history than any other state in the country. Similar to its new stance on marijuana, Virginia will be the first state in the South to abolish the death penalty; July 1 will see major reforms to criminal justice in Virginia.