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New Virginia laws begin July 1
A host of new laws will go into effect in Virginia on Friday, July 1, including laws regulating concealed weapons, fantasy gaming, new age minimums for marriage and smoking in cars. Here are some of them:

Sweeping changes to impact high school learning, training
High school is headed for an overhaul in Virginia. Under reforms approved by the General Assembly, students who take courses to become computer technicians, mechanics, nurses and plumbers or enter other career and technical fields are to be placed on an equal footing with students seeking to go to college.

2016 General Assembly ends with bipartisan consensus on budget, other measures
The 2016 General Assembly session is over — ending last Friday, a day early, on a high note of accomplishment. The hectic 59 days produced a landmark compromise on gun laws and a new state budget providing a dramatic boost in spending on public education and offering pay hikes for state workers and lawmakers.

Challenge to House districts dismissed
A three-judge federal court panel has dismissed a constitutional challenge to 12 majority-black districts in the Virginia House of Delegates.

Absentee ballots can be requested online through new state portal
Virginians now can go online to apply for an absentee ballot. That’s possible after the Virginia Department of Elections launched its new online “citizens portal” Wednesday, according to a release from Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s office.

New Virginia laws effective July 1
Hundreds of new laws took effect Wednesday in Virginia. Here are a few highlights: Social media: Employers cannot ask employees or prospective employees for the username and passwords of their social media accounts.