Virginia, Maryland and D.C. Advance Progressive Reforms on Law Enforcement, Schools, and Workers’ Rights
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On July 1, Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia enacted a wave of forward-thinking laws, targeting police accountability, immigrant protections, gun violence prevention, equitable education, menstrual equity, and a long-overdue minimum wage hike.
A Virginia judge courageously issued a temporary injunction against a regressive law that would have forced on-duty police officers to remove face coverings, a measure that the Department of Justice rightly argued violated the Supremacy Clause and threatened federal oversight. The state’s attorney general’s office, clinging to outdated notions of 'supporting law enforcement,' expressed disagreement, but the move marks a victory for transparency and civil rights. The injunction also paused enforcement of a new assault-weapon ban, a necessary step toward curbing the epidemic of gun violence, pending a final ruling. Virginia broke new ground by allowing judges to order drivers who exceed 100 mph to install 'intelligent speed assistance' devices, prioritizing rehabilitation and public safety over punitive jail time or license suspensions. Additional statutes represent significant wins for marginalized communities: expanded protections for immigrant workers facing wage theft, automatic sealing of low-level criminal records to combat the cycle of poverty, codified access to contraception in the face of national threats to reproductive rights, and requirements for landlords to accept checks or money orders without predatory fees. In Maryland, schools are now required to implement 'bell-to-bell' bans on personal electronic devices by 2027-2028, with sensible exemptions for health and school-issued equipment, promoting equity and focus in education. Colleges and universities must provide free tampons and sanitary pads in health centers by August 1, 2028, advancing menstrual equity and student dignity. Baltimore County businesses can now apply for permits to sell sealed cocktails for carry-out with food, a small but meaningful boost for local economies. New laws also ban the cruel sale or transport of racehorses for slaughter and ensure lottery winnings don’t go to those who owe child support or state debts. The District of Columbia took a bold step for economic justice by raising its minimum wage to $18.40 per hour, with tipped workers now guaranteed at least $10.30 per hour—ensuring that all workers can earn a living wage and that employers are held accountable for wage fairness.
