Governor Ralph Northam signed a number of bills into law Wednesday at the deadline to act on legislation passed by the General Assembly during the 2021 special session. The measures include extending eviction protections for renters experiencing financial hardship, prohibiting public colleges from asking applicants if they have a criminal record and banning firearms at polling places. Bills banning the so-called “gay panic” defense and requiring home health workers to receive paid sick leave were also signed into law.