The House Education Subcommittee on K-12 met on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. This week's docket includes 21 pieces of proposed legislation impacting K-12 education, with 3 bills being passed by for the day: HB478 (Watts), HB195 (McQuinn), HB873 (Kent)
To view this week's House Education Subcommittee on K-12 click here.
Below you will find a few of the bills heard in this week's subcommittee hearing.
HB138 (Delegate Simonds) Public high schools; career coach required.
Requires each school board to employ at least one career coach in each public high school in the local school division to assist students with securing internships, externships, credentialing opportunities, information on apprenticeship programs, and connecting students to career opportunities. The bill also provides that each such individual shall be employed in addition to and not as a replacement for the required school counselor positions, specialized student support positions, or support services positions.
K‑12 subcommittee recommends reporting and referring to Appropriations
HB139 (Delegate Simonds) School board policies; unpaid educational leave for certain employee association officers.
Requires each school board to adopt a policy to approve unpaid educational leave for school board employees who are state employee association officers and for at least two school board employees who are local employee association officers for a maximum of four years per officer. The bill permits employee association officers approved for such leave to purchase service credit with the Virginia Retirement System for such period of leave.
Our VSBA Chief Lobbyist raised concerns about the mandate requiring leave to be granted to any state or local association officers. With collective bargaining forthcoming, this mandate could result in significant financial implications and further strain an already existing teacher shortage by requiring leave for officers of any union. VSBA would support the bill with an amendment changing the language from “shall adopt a policy” to “may adopt a policy,” thereby preserving local authority. While VSBA supports the VRS service credit provision of the bill, it does not support the mandated leave requirement.
K‑12 subcommittee recommends reporting
HB332 (Delegate Rasoul) Teacher licensure; three-year license to teach career and technical education, etc.
Requires the Board of Education to provide for the issuance of a three-year license to teach solely CTE courses or dual enrollment courses at public high schools. The bill requires the Board to require any such instructor to maintain continuous employment in such position at the institution of higher education as a condition of continued licensure.
K‑12 subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (10‑Y 0‑N)
HB410 (Delegate Reid) School boards; participation in SAT School Day program required, student participation.
Requires each school board to participate in the SAT School Day program or any similar program offered by the College Board whereby high school students are permitted to take the SAT during regular school hours at the high school at which they are enrolled.
K‑12 subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute and referring to Appropriations (9‑Y 1‑N)
HB786 (Delegate Austin) School bds.; authority to prohibit sale of caffeinated beverages to students in public high schools.
Permits any school board to prohibit the sale of caffeinated beverages to students in public high schools in the local school division.
An amendment was added to line 27 to include "F. Any school board may prohibit the sale of all or any variety of caffeinated beverages to students in public high schools in the local school division..."
K‑12 subcommittee recommends reporting with amendment(s) (10‑Y 0‑N)
The House Education Subcommittee on K-12 meets weekly during the session on Tuesdays, at 7:30 a.m., on House Room A, and Tuesdays, at 4:00 p.m., House Room C, General Assembly Building. A link to the Live Stream video and recordings of all previously held committee meetings and floor sessions of the House can be viewed by clicking here.
Sofhia Pineda
VSBA Government Relations Specialist
