PE Bills Continue to Advance

As we have previously reported, there are two bills – SB 966 (Sen. Northam) and HB 1644 (Del O’Bannon) – that would require school boards to provide 150 minutes of physical education (not health) per week in grades K-8. Both bills have been passed by their respective Houses of introduction. Sen. Northam’s bill has also been amended and passed by the House. Most recently, Del. O’Bannon’s bill was recommended for reporting by the Public Education Subcommittee of the Senate Education and Health Committee. We expect this bill to come before the full committee on Thursday. We will continue to oppose this bill as an unfunded mandate.