Washington, D.C
New DC area laws go into effect Jan. 1, 2024: minimum wage increases, plastic bag bans, health care
WASHINGTON – New year – new laws.
Beginning January 1, 2024, several new laws went into effect across the Washington, D.C. area.
While there are no significant new laws in the District itself, several in Maryland and Virginia will cause notable change throughout the metro region.
NEW MARYLAND LAWS 2024
MINIMUM WAGES
Maryland has raised minimum wages for workers to $15 an hour. The Fair Wage Act of 2023 was signed into law by Maryland Governor Wes Moore in April of last year. The new law will increase wages for approximately 163,000 workers.
Maryland minimum wage increases to $15
Maryland has raised minimum wages for workers to $15 an hour.
PLASTIC BAG BANS
Businesses in Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties, and in Frederick, Maryland, will no longer be permitted to provide single-use plastic bags at the point of sale. Customers are encouraged to bring reusable bags with them to shop.
The ban was enacted to help protect local waterways and marine life, reduce plastic pollution and litter, and promote reusable bags. Several other areas of Maryland, like Baltimore County, already have plastic bag bans in place.
READ MORE: New plastic bag fee heading to Prince George’s County
Plastic bag ban starts in parts of Maryland
Businesses in Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties, and in Frederick, Maryland, will no longer be permitted to provide single-use plastic bags at the point of sale.
TRANS HEALTH EQUITY ACT
Maryland’s Medicaid program is now required to cover medically necessary gender-affirming care without discrimination.
According to the legislation posted online, “the Maryland Medical Assistance Program to provide gender-affirming treatment in a nondiscriminatory manner; requiring that the gender-affirming treatment be assessed according to nondiscriminatory criteria that are consistent with current clinical standards; prohibiting the issuance of an adverse benefit determination related to gender-affirming treatment unless a certain experienced health care provider has reviewed and confirmed the appropriateness of the determination; etc.”
NEW VIRGINIA LAWS 2024
COUNSELING COMPACT
The legislation authorizes Virginia to become a signatory to the Counseling Compact, which allows eligible licensed professional counselors to practice in other Compact member states – as long as they are licensed in at least one of the member states. Virginia is the 20th state to join the Counseling Compact.
HEALTH CARE PROVIDER PANELS
The new law aims to ensure a smoother transition and continuity of care for patients.
Insurance carriers must now inform policyholders if their current healthcare provider, or one they’ve seen in the past six months, is no longer part of the carrier’s network.
If your healthcare provider is removed from the insurance network, you have the right to continue receiving care from them for at least 90 days after their removal.
READ MORE: New Virginia laws going into effect on January 1, 2024
Sunday, March 1, 2026 6:36AM
SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — The San Francisco Ballet board has voted to cancel its upcoming performances at the Kennedy Center.
The company is scheduled for a four-day run in Washington D.C. in May.
Petition urges SF Ballet to cancel Kennedy Center tour stop as company opens 2026 season
Last year, Pres. Donald Trump overhauled the Kennedy Center’s board, including naming himself the chairman.
That led several artists to cancel scheduled performances.
A statement from SF Ballet says the group “looks forward to performing for Washington, D.C. audiences in the future.”
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At 97, Veteran Harley Wero wasn’t up for a trip to the nation’s capital, so volunteers from the Western North Dakota honor flight brought the trip to him. Wero, his wife Muriel and their daughter Jennifer got to experience Washington, DC, without ever leaving their home.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
WASHINGTON – Beginning on Monday, the D.C. Department of Health will be conducting daily tests for E. coli in the Potomac and Anacostia rivers.
It comes more than five weeks after the Potomac interceptor collapse sent millions of gallons of sewage into the river.
The testing will also coincide with an important safety advisory being lifted.
Why it matters:
Director of the D.C. Department of Health, Dr. Ayanna Bennett, says they will begin daily testing for E. coli in the Potomac and Anacostia rivers on Monday, along with help from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Currently, D.C. is only testing weekly.
“We feel really secure that the initial sewage is not a threat to people, it’s passed through some time ago, but we do want to get more information about what the long term condition of the river is gonna be and how we should look at it going forward.”
Big picture view:
Monday is also an important day because it’s when the District is expected to lift its advisory that recommends against recreational activities on the Potomac — we’re talking boating, fishing, walking pets by the water.
It’s important to note, however, that D.C.’s advisory pertains to its portion of the Potomac, and it has no bearing on advisories issued by officials in Maryland or Virginia.
Still, this is being treated by many as a hopeful sign.
What they’re saying:
But significant concerns absolutely remain for residents.
“I’ve had tons of messages from people saying they’re not going to let their kids row crew, they’re not going to go to sailing schools. We catch three million tons of blue cats out of the Potomac River. That season starts next week, and they’re not gonna be able to bring those blue cats to market,” said Dean Naujoks with the Potomac Riverkeepers.
“You knew years ago that parts of this Potomac Interceptor were corroded and vulnerable, especially where it broke, in Cabin John, our neighborhood,” one resident said, speaking at a public meeting in Bethesda on Thursday.
“I know there are small business owners here. Who’s accounting for all of our losses that we’re getting due to your sewer blowing up?” another resident asked.
Officials with D.C. Water, which is a public utility, have been running daily tests and will continue to do so as well.
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