Compliance Stuff

Most employers are prepared for new laws at the start of each year – but did you know that a heap of new workplace laws take effect at the halfway point? Here’s your employer cheat sheet to prepare for all the new laws taking effect in July 2026 (July 1, unless otherwise noted). NOTE: This list should not be relied upon as a comprehensive source for any or all new laws taking effect across the country. Check with your FP attorney to determine whether the jurisdictions in which you operate have additional workplace law changes set to take effect on July 1. Alaska Statewide Minimum Wage Increase. Due to a ballot measure approved by voters in 2024, the minimum wage will increase again to $14 per hour. The Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Summary of Wage and Hour poster can be found here . Arkansas Arkansas Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act. A law enacted last year ( HB 1717 ) will impose various data privacy and security requirements on covered opera...

Key Points Virginia’s HB 636/SB 215 will bar employers from seeking or relying on wage or salary history and will require good-faith wage or salary ranges in all job postings beginning July 1, 2026.  SB 170 and HB 627/SB 128 will make noncompetes unenforceable after without-cause discharge absent disclosed severance and will sharply limit restrictive covenants for health care professionals as of July 1, 2026.  HB 1/SB 1 will raise Virginia’s minimum wage to $12.77, $13.75, and $15.00 per hour in annual steps through January 2029, with later increases set by the commissioner.  HB 238 will expand Virginia wage statutes by broadening the definitions of “employer” and “wages,” enhancing remedies and collective actions, and imposing new public-works recordkeeping and joint-and-several liability requirements.  HB 1207/SB 2 will create a statewide paid family and medical leave insurance program effective April 1, 2028, requiring employer contributions to a state fund unless...

The District of Columbia Minimum Wage poster has been updated. The District of Columbia Minimum Wage poster has been updated to reflect an increase to the minimum wage rate. The minimum wage will increase from $17.95 per hour to $18.40 per hour effective July 1, 2026. The minimum wage for tipped employees will also increase to $10.30 per hour effective July 1, 2026. This posting appears on the District of Columbia Combination Poster. This is a mandatory change.   Statutory language regarding this posting: Effective July 1, 2026, the minimum wage in the District of Columbia will increase from $17.95 per hour to $18.40 per hour for all workers, under an annual inflation adjustment passed by the “Fair Shot Minimum Wage Adjustment Act of 2016”, which includes provisions to further increase the minimum wage in subsequent years. Also as of July 1, 2026, the base minimum wage for tipped employees will increase from $10.00 per hour to $10.30 per hour. Posting Statute: ​DC Stat. §32-10...

 The Minnesota Minimum Wage poster has been updated. The Minnesota Minimum Wage poster has been updated to reflect that employers must allow at least a 15-minute rest break within every four hours of consecutive work and at least a 30-minute meal break if a shift lasts six or more consecutive hours. This posting appears on the Minnesota Combination Poster. This is a mandatory change. Statutory language regarding this posting: Minnesota recently amended its meal and rest break requirements requiring employers to give employees 15-minute paid rest breaks for every four hours of work and a 30-minute meal break for employees who work six hours or more.  Posting Statute: ​MN Stat. § 177.31 Source(s): Minnesota Minimum Wage Poster Change . (2026, May 13). Complyright.com. https://laborlawchanges.complyright.com/2026/05/13/minnesota-minimum-wage-poster-change-12/ ‌

Virginia’s new Democratic majority in the General Assembly has sent a slate of legislative reforms to Governor Abigail Spanberger’s desk that would address a broad range of employment-related subjects in the Commonwealth, including  paid sick leave and paid family medical leave , noncompetition agreements in the healthcare industry, pay equity, minimum wage, and leave protections for women with menopausal or perimenopausal symptoms. 00:00 10:13 Quick Hits Virginia’s General Assembly has passed legislation that would prohibit noncompete agreements for healthcare professionals. HB1 and SB1 would establish a multiyear schedule to increase Virginia’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by January 1, 2028, with further adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index starting in 2029. SB258 and SB790 would introduce workplace protections and health insurance coverage for menopause and perimenopause . Prohibiting Healthcare Noncompete Agreements (Senate Bill (SB) 128) Following the  trend ...