Virginia’s New Laws for 2026: What Alexandria Residents Need to Know

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The ball dropped, the calendar flipped, and Virginia quietly rolled out a stack of new laws on January 1. No jargon, no legalese — here’s the Zebra-style breakdown of what Alexandria residents should know in 2026.

Teen Screen Time Gets a Time-Out

Social media platforms must now cap users under 16 at one hour per day per app by default. Parents can adjust the limit with verified consent. Platforms also have to step up age-verification efforts.

Translation: expect new prompts, passwords, and “Why can’t I log in?” conversations at home.

Minimum Wage Gets a Bump

Virginia’s minimum wage is now $12.77 an hour. If you’re paid hourly, your paycheck should reflect the increase. If you run a business, your payroll needs an update as of Jan. 1.

Unemployment Benefits Increase

New unemployment claims filed in 2026 now come with an extra $52 per week for eligible recipients.

Health Insurance: Fewer Surprise Bills

For many insurance plans issued or renewed this year:

• Diagnostic and supplemental breast exams (including diagnostic mammograms, MRIs, and ultrasounds) can no longer include cost-sharing.
• Coverage rules for prostate cancer screenings have been updated to align with current medical standards.

In short: fewer bills showing up when you’re already stressed.

Stricter Rules for Baby Food

Virginia’s Baby Food Protection Act limits the sale of baby food products that exceed federal thresholds for certain toxic heavy metals, with specific exceptions outlined in the law.

Spam Texts? STOP Means STOP

Reply “STOP” or “UNSUBSCRIBE” to a sales or marketing text, and the sender must leave you alone — for at least 10 years.

Clearer Court Bills

If you’re ordered to pay fines, fees, or restitution for a traffic or criminal case, you can now request an itemized breakdown from the court clerk showing exactly what you owe.

New Protections for Kids in Online Content

If a child under 16 appears in certain monetized online videos, Virginia law now requires that some earnings be placed into a trust account for the child, helping ensure kids benefit from the content they help create.

None of these laws are Alexandria-only — but they all apply here. Together, they touch real life: paychecks, parenting, health care, consumer sanity, and online habits. Quiet changes, maybe — but ones you’ll notice in 2026.