Virginia is eliminating its 1.5% tax on groceries and personal hygiene products such as diapers and tampons. However, localities will still have the power to impose a 1% tax on groceries.
govt. Glenn Youngkin (R) called for the elimination of state and local grocery taxes In their 2021 bid, Democrats who control the state Senate insisted that localities retain their share of prominence. local funding source.
Virginia minimum wage will go from $11 per hour to $12 per hour. The hike is the latest boost mandated by a law that Virginia Democrats pushed in early 2020 after overthrowing the state Senate and House of Delegates. At the time, the state minimum wage had been stuck at the federal floor of $7.25 an hour for more than a decade.
The law sets out a plan for the minimum to rise to $15 in 2026, but only if the now divided General Assembly approves. Under the plan, the minimum would remain at $12 for a year while lawmakers consider whether to approve further increases considered — but not dictated — by law: $13.50 in January 2025 and $15 in January. 2026.
If lawmakers do not vote for these increases by July 2024, the minimum wage would be adjusted each year to reflect increases in the consumer price index.
In Maryland, the minimum wage for employers with 15 or more workers will increase from $12.50 per hour to $13.25 per hour. It is expected to increase again, to $14 per hour, on January 1. 1, 2024.
In the District, January will mark the first salary increase under Initiative 82, the voters passed a measure on the ballot in November raise the minimum wage for workers who receive tips. The measure will raise the minimum wage for restaurant servers and other tip workers from $5.35 per hour to $6 per hour. The minimum is expected to reach $16.10 per hour by 2027.
The District Living Wage, which some DC government contractors and subcontractors are required to pay their workers, will also increase on Jan. 1. 1, from $16.10 per hour to $16.50 per hour. The minimum wage, which every employer must pay their workers without tipping, will remain at $16.10 until July 1, when it and the living wage will both increase to $17 an hour.
Another new law in the district will require all health insurance plans to be issued on or after January 1. 1 to cover certain foods required for certain medical conditions, such as inflammatory bowel disease and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Beginning Jan. 1, family and parental leave for district government employees will increase by four weeks, to 12 weeks per year. Those who work for the DC government will also be newly eligible for paid personal medical leave and prenatal leave.
In Maryland, a new law will require the state’s Medical Cannabis Commission to undertake a baseline study of the impact of cannabis use on public health in the state. Decision comes as Maryland prepares to legalize adult recreational use in July.
Under a the ballot initiative passed with an overwhelming majority in Novemberadults 21 and older in Maryland will be allowed to possess up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana and grow two plants out of public view.
Another new law coming into force aims to improve the collection and dissemination of data on evictions. The judiciary will be required to collect data on eviction cases and share it monthly with the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development, which in turn must make the data available to state and local agencies. , as well as academic institutions.
With the new year also comes the implementation of Maryland’s Family and Medical Leave Insurance Program, which will likely operate similarly to the state’s Unemployment Insurance program, with a tax on workers. and employers funding paid leave.
Starting in 2025, workers in Maryland will be able to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave to care for a sick family member, newborn or newly adopted child, among other things.
govt. Larry Hogan (R) vetoed the measure, but the Democratic-controlled legislature overturned it, making Maryland the tenth state to offer the Jobs Protection Benefit.
Hogan warned in his veto message that the measure would hurt small businesses. Employers with 15 or more workers will have to contribute to a fund and, as with unemployment insurance, employees will also have to pay a weekly contribution. But supporters have invoked the plight of pandemic-era workers struggling to balance illness and employment.
Starting Jan. 1, every adult enrolled in Maryland’s Medicaid program will be eligible for free dental care. Until now, the only adults covered were those enrolled in a pilot program. Another new law will cap the co-pay that insurers can charge individuals to pay for insulin at $30 for a 30-day supply.
Jenna Portnoy contributed to this report.
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