[co-authors: Taylor Daly, Senior Public Policy Specialist and Rebecca Kocsis, Legal Project Analyst]
Throughout the month of March, states continued to introduce new privacy laws of their own as Congress focused on enacting President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 which President Biden signed into law on March 11.
The last month notably featured several key developments in California, as the state announced the establishment of the five-member inaugural board for the California Privacy Protection Agency (CPPA), a new administrative agency created by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA) and charged with implementing and enforcing the state’s privacy laws. Further, the state has approved additional California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) regulations, which went into effect on March 15. As clients look to navigate the changing privacy landscape in California, Akin Gump has published a new report looking back at the fir
Prince William County School Board wants Gov to drop social distancing for outdoor graduations
Parents in Prince William County want Governor Ralph Northam to drop social distancing for outdoor graduations
Parents in at least one Northern Virginia school district say social distancing rules outdoors are stricter than those indoors - and they want them dropped for in-person graduation ceremonies that are held outdoors.
The Prince William County School Board is asking Virginia Governor Ralph Northam to waive social distance requirements for upcoming outdoor graduations. In school our students are three-feet apart from one another. So indoors the requirement is three-feet apart, why would outdoors – in an outdoor arena – be six-feet? That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, Board Chairman Babur Lateef told Fox 5 Thursday.
47abc
May 14, 2021
RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced on Friday that the state will lift its mask mandate tonight at midnight.
His order will be consistent with CDC guidance, meaning those who are vaccinated will be allowed to remove their mask in many situations. However, those who have not yet been vaccinated must continue wearing a mask.
On Twitter, Governor Northam said, “It’s simple: either get your shot, or wear a mask.”
Thursday, May 13, 2021
On March 25, 2021, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed into law new protections for employees related to the medicinal use of cannabis oil. Effective July 1, 2021, the newly enacted § 40.1-27.4 will prohibit employers from disciplining, discharging, or discriminating against an employee for his or her lawful use of cannabis oil so long as the use is pursuant to a valid written certification issued by a health care practitioner for the treatment of the employee’s diagnosed condition or disease.
These limited protections for medicinal use of “cannabis oil” should not be confused with broader protections for all forms of “medical marijuana.” Rather, the new law only applies to “cannabis oil,” which has a limited and technical definition under Virginia law: “any formulation of processed Cannabis plant extract, which may include oil from industrial hemp extract acquired by a pharmaceutical processor, or a dilution of the resin of
East Coast gas shortage has prosecutors on the lookout for price gougers
By Natalie Rubino
States working to curb gas price gouging amid East Coast shortage
States in the mid-Atlantic region are working to stop gouging as the East Coast continues to be mired in a massive gas shortage.
WASHINGTON - As the gas shortage continues attorney generals along the East Coast are warning of price gouging.
Gas spiked well above $3.00 a gallon throughout the DMV with some people reporting prices close to $4.00 a gallon.
Most states have laws in place to prevent price gouging during a state of emergency.